Amonte Hiller Nets U.S. Sports Academy Honor
from press release
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University
women's lacrosse coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, who turned a club
program into a powerhouse in less than a decade, has been named
winner of the United States Sports Academy's C. Vivian
Stringer Coaching Award.
The C. Vivian Stringer Coaching Award is presented to an
individual who has experienced outstanding achievement as a
coach for female teams. This person should exhibit a high
standard of propriety, imagination and innovation as a
character-builder in the tradition of great teacher-coaches.
Amonte Hiller's team won its fifth straight NCAA championship in
2009, becoming just the second lacrosse program to accomplish
that feat. In 2009, her team finished 23-0 as she improved her
career record to 134-24. Including two national titles she won as
an All-American at Maryland, Amonte Hiller now has been part of
seven national championships.
Entering her ninth season at the helm of the Wildcats, Amonte
Hiller has compiled some impressive numbers. She boasts a career
coaching record of 134-24 (.848), while her 21-1 (.955) record in
the NCAA tournament is the highest winning percentage in the
sport's history. Amonte Hiller has mentored two Tewaaraton Trophy
winners (Kristen Kjellman in 2006 and 2007 and Hannah Nielsen in
2008 and 2009) and over two dozen All-Americans. A five-time
selection as the American Lacrosse Conference Coach of the Year,
Amonte Hiller has also been named Coach of the Year by the IWLCA
three times.
Amonte Hiller took over when Northwestern was a club program in
2001. It didn't take her long to make an impact. After a 5-10
record her first year, the team reached .500 the following season.
In the last six seasons combined, the Wildcats have lost a total of
six games.
Amonte Hiller's fellow coaches at Northwestern have also
recognized her excellence. She has been voted the recipient of the
Bob Voigts Coach of the Year Award at Northwestern three straight
years and four of the last five years. The Voigts award is voted on
by the coaches of all 19 Wildcat sports.
The United States Sports Academy is an independent, nonprofit,
accredited, special mission sports university created to serve the
nation and the world with programs in instruction, research and
service. The role of the Academy is to prepare men and women for
careers in the profession of sports.
Amonte Hiller and the Wildcats begin the defense of their five
consecutive national titles on Feb. 6, 2010, facing Massachusetts
in San Diego, Calif., in a rematch of last season's NCAA first
round showdown.
