Northwestern University Athletics
Claire Pollard Earns Inaugural NU Bob Voigts Coach of the Year Award
8/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Aug. 25, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Head women's tennis coach Claire Pollard received the inaugural Bob Voigts Coach of the Year Award Wednesday night at Northwestern's Annual Benchwarmer Dinner.
After guiding NU to a sixth-straight Big Ten Championship, coaching a unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year in Cristelle Grier, earning Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year honors, achieving a No. 6 national ranking as well as a trip to the NCAA Championships, it is safe to say Pollard's trophy case is pretty crowded these days.
"We had several outstanding coaches during the past year, but our women's tennis team has been one of the strongest programs in recent years," NU Director of Athletics Mark Murphy said. "To win at this level year-in and year-out is one of the toughest things to do in coaching."
The Bob Voigts Coach of the Year Award goes to a head coach selected by colleagues as the department's coach of the year. The award is named in memory of legendary Northwestern head football coach Bob Voigts.
Voigts, a 1939 graduate of Northwestern, was an All-America tackle from 1936-38 before acting as head football coach from 1947-54 and leading the `Cats to a 1949 Rose Bowl victory.
Voigts and his wife Charlotte are also remembered for their loyalty and service to Northwestern through the Bob and Charlotte Voigts Recognition Scholarship, which is presented annually to a student-athlete who demonstrates outstanding academic and athletic performance.
Charlotte, a 1942 Northwestern graduate, served Northwestern as a University administrator from 1966-87 and associate director of alumni relations from 1975-87.
The Voigts' stellar service to Northwestern mirrors that of Pollard's, whose resume is dripping with accolades. In six years as the Wildcats' head coach, she has won six Big Ten titles and compiled an overall record of 135-34.
"With all of the outstanding coaches in our department, I am very surprised," Pollard said. "My amazing student-athletes get all the credit for making me look good."
