Wolverine Coaching Staff Tabbed Top in West Region
12/7/2017 1:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
GILBERT, Ariz. -- The University of Michigan field hockey coaching staff has been named the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year as announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) on Thursday (Dec. 7). The staff led the Wolverines to a 21-3 overall record -- a program record for wins -- en route to the 2017 Big Ten Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a berth in the NCAA Tournament semifinals.
Michigan's 2017 coaching staff consisted of head coach Marcia Pankratz and assistant coaches Ryan Langford and Lucia Belassi White. This season marks the first time the NFHCA regional coaching honor recognizes the whole staff; Pankratz was previously a four-time West Region Coach of the Year honoree (1999, 2000, '03, '15).
Pankratz recently completed her 18th overall season at Michigan (1996-2004, '09-17). She has compiled a career record of 275-121 (.694) and led U-M to eight Big Ten regular-season and five tournament titles. A six-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Pankratz has guided her players to 35 total All-America citations -- including three this season -- and 17 Big Ten Player of the Year accolades.
Langford and White together have been Pankratz's primary assistants for the past eight years, while Langford just completed his ninth season. Over their tenure, the Wolverines have captured three Big Ten regular-season titles and two tournament titles and qualified for the NCAA Tournament six times. U-M has produced 14 All-Americans over the last eight seasons, including four-time honoree Rachael Mack, fellow first-teamers Lauren Thomas and senior Katie Trombetta and the program's first All-America goalkeeper in senior Sam Swenson.
Trombetta, Swenson and sophomore Meg Dowthwaite made up the Wolverines' All-America contingent this season. Trombetta was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Tournament MVP, while Swenson was voted the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
