Northwestern University Athletics
Hannah Nielsen Named Head Women's Lacrosse Coach at Michigan
6/26/2017 4:36:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, ILL. — The University of Michigan has named Northwestern assistant Hannah Nielsen as its new head coach, the Wolverines announced Monday. Nielsen is the second head coach in that program's history after spending the past year as an assistant with the Wildcats under Combe Family Head Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller.
"I am very excited for Hannah as she takes this major step in her career," Amonte Hiller said. "She's extremely deserving of the opportunity, and I am proud that programs continue to look to Northwestern to hire head coaches. Hannah will always be a Wildcat and our entire lacrosse family is thrilled for her."
"I am extremely honored and excited for this opportunity to take the next step in my coaching career as the head women's lacrosse coach at the University of Michigan," Nielsen said. "Michigan truly is a world-class academic and athletic institution and I look forward to leading the women's program to great things. I would like to thank Kelly Amonte Hiller for bringing me back to Northwestern and for her guidance, and to Dr. Jim Phillips and Janna Blais for their support through this process. While it is sad to be leaving my alma mater, I am incredibly excited to get to work.
During her lone season on the Wildcats' coaching staff, Nielsen was instrumental in guiding seniors Christina Esposito and Danita Stroup to career best years offensively. Esposito posted career highs with 45 goals and 64 points, while Stroup finished with a career-high 42 goals and 44 points.
Nielsen still holds Northwestern career records in points (398) and assists (224) and ranks sixth in program history with 174 goals. Her career assist total ranks first in the Division I record book, while she also holds the NCAA single-season assist record with 83 from the 2009 season.
She was inducted into the Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
One of the greatest players in the history of the sport, Nielsen captured the Tewaaraton Trophy and Lacrosse Honda Sports Award in 2008 and 2009. She was a three-time IWLCA first-team All-American and was named IWLCA, WomensLax.com and Womenslacrosse.com Player of the Year in her junior and senior seasons. Nielsen earned the Big Ten Conference's Suzy Favor Award, presented to the league's Female Athlete of the Year, in 2008.
She was named the American Lacrosse Conference Player of the Year and earned first-team all-conference selection in 2008 and 2009, while also earning ALC Championship Most Valuable Player honors in the same seasons.
Nielsen recorded at least one point in the last 67 games she played as a Wildcat. She started all 88 games of her Northwestern career with the team posting an 85-3 record and winning four-straight national championships.
Also a member of the Australia women's national lacrosse team, Nielsen was a member of the Australian U-19 team (2003 & 2007) as well as the 2005 World Cup-winning senior team, and was selected as an All-Star player in both the 2009 and 2013 World Cups. The Adelaide, Australia, native will represent her country in a third-straight World Cup this summer.
Nielsen becomes the 10th former Wildcat to be named head coach of a women's lacrosse program.
She replaces Jennifer Ulehla, who spent the last four seasons as the head coach and helped start the Wolverines' lacrosse program.
The Wildcats will begin a national search to replace Nielsen for the 2018 season.
"I am very excited for Hannah as she takes this major step in her career," Amonte Hiller said. "She's extremely deserving of the opportunity, and I am proud that programs continue to look to Northwestern to hire head coaches. Hannah will always be a Wildcat and our entire lacrosse family is thrilled for her."
"I am extremely honored and excited for this opportunity to take the next step in my coaching career as the head women's lacrosse coach at the University of Michigan," Nielsen said. "Michigan truly is a world-class academic and athletic institution and I look forward to leading the women's program to great things. I would like to thank Kelly Amonte Hiller for bringing me back to Northwestern and for her guidance, and to Dr. Jim Phillips and Janna Blais for their support through this process. While it is sad to be leaving my alma mater, I am incredibly excited to get to work.
During her lone season on the Wildcats' coaching staff, Nielsen was instrumental in guiding seniors Christina Esposito and Danita Stroup to career best years offensively. Esposito posted career highs with 45 goals and 64 points, while Stroup finished with a career-high 42 goals and 44 points.
Nielsen still holds Northwestern career records in points (398) and assists (224) and ranks sixth in program history with 174 goals. Her career assist total ranks first in the Division I record book, while she also holds the NCAA single-season assist record with 83 from the 2009 season.
She was inducted into the Northwestern Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.
One of the greatest players in the history of the sport, Nielsen captured the Tewaaraton Trophy and Lacrosse Honda Sports Award in 2008 and 2009. She was a three-time IWLCA first-team All-American and was named IWLCA, WomensLax.com and Womenslacrosse.com Player of the Year in her junior and senior seasons. Nielsen earned the Big Ten Conference's Suzy Favor Award, presented to the league's Female Athlete of the Year, in 2008.
She was named the American Lacrosse Conference Player of the Year and earned first-team all-conference selection in 2008 and 2009, while also earning ALC Championship Most Valuable Player honors in the same seasons.
Nielsen recorded at least one point in the last 67 games she played as a Wildcat. She started all 88 games of her Northwestern career with the team posting an 85-3 record and winning four-straight national championships.
Also a member of the Australia women's national lacrosse team, Nielsen was a member of the Australian U-19 team (2003 & 2007) as well as the 2005 World Cup-winning senior team, and was selected as an All-Star player in both the 2009 and 2013 World Cups. The Adelaide, Australia, native will represent her country in a third-straight World Cup this summer.
Nielsen becomes the 10th former Wildcat to be named head coach of a women's lacrosse program.
She replaces Jennifer Ulehla, who spent the last four seasons as the head coach and helped start the Wolverines' lacrosse program.
The Wildcats will begin a national search to replace Nielsen for the 2018 season.
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