Northwestern University Athletics
Former Wildcat Averill Inducted into NFHCA Hall of Fame
1/18/2010 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Jan. 18, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Jennifer Averill, a four-time All-American for Northwestern from 1983-86 and winner of the 1986 Honda Broderick Award as the nation's top collegiate player, was inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Hall of Fame last week at the organization's annual convention in Richmond, Va.
While in Evanston, Averill led the 'Cats to two NCAA semifinal appearances (1983 and 1985) and racked up 70 career assists, tops all-time in Northwestern field hockey history. She also finished with 110 career points, a sum that ranks fifth in program history.
In addition to winning the Honda Broderick Award in her senior season, Averill also took home the Big Ten's Suzy Favor Award as the league's female athlete of the year as well as the Big Ten's Medal of Honor for academic excellence. Averill was deemed Northwestern's female athlete of the decade in 1989 and gained entrance to the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
Following her international playing career, Averill became the head coach at Wake Forest in 1992 and took the Demon Deacons' program from the level of virtual unknowns to national champions. In 2009 Averill completed her 18th season at the helm in Winston-Salem during which time she has guided Wake Forest to three NCAA titles, three ACC championships and nine NCAA semifinal appearances. She has been named the NCAA National Coach of the Year on three occasions.
