Northwestern University Athletics
Johnstone Promoted to Associate Head Coach
2/21/2014 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Feb. 21, 2014
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern head field hockey coach Tracey Fuchs today announced the promotion of Ali Johnstone to associate head coach.
Johnstone has served as an assistant coach on the Wildcats' staff for the last three seasons, helping NU to a combined 43-18 record over that span. The 'Cats notched a 16-4 mark in 2012 before going 15-5 and earning a share of the Big Ten championship last season.
Under Johnstone's leadership, Northwestern's defense ranked fourth in the nation with a 1.13 goals-against average in 2013. The Wildcats cracked the top 10 in the NFCHA national rankings each of the last two years. NU has had three All-Americans during Johnstone's tenure as Chelsea Armstrong (2011, 2012) Tara Puffenberger (2012, 2013) and Nikki Parsley (2013) all have earned the distinction.
"Ali is a remarkable coach and has done an amazing job since arriving at Northwestern," said Fuchs. "Our defense is one of the top in the nation and Ali's hard work recruiting has helped us solidify our spot as one of the best teams in the Big Ten. I am so fortunate to have her on staff and very grateful for all she does for Northwestern Field Hockey."
"Everyday I wake up and am extremely blessed to be a part of the Wildcat family," Johnstone said. "I want to thank Tracey for giving me the opportunity to be apart of such an amazing program and look forward to writing history. It is an absolute pleasure working with Tracey and Zoe (Almquist). The support from Jim Phillips and our administration is endless and I cannot thank everyone enough. I look forward to working with our outstanding student-athletes and our support staff as we become a force in the Big Ten and make waves on the national scene."
A native of Delta, British Columbia, Johnstone came to Evanston after serving as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Ohio University.
A two-time NFHCA All-American and the first Bobcat to earn first-team All-MAC each of her four seasons in Athens, she graduated from Ohio in 2002 has been inducted in the school's Hall of Fame.
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