Wildcat Coaches Named NFHCA Staff of the Year

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Wildcat Coaches Named NFHCA Staff of the Year

1/13/2022 1:53:00 PM | Field Hockey

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern Field Hockey's coaching staff has been named NFHCA National Staff of the Year, as announced by the organization on Thursday evening.

Under head coach Tracey Fuchs, associate head coach Georgia Holland, and assistant coach Will Byrne, the Wildcats compiled an 18-5 record en route to the first National Championship in program history.

It was the fifth Final Four appearance in program history and first under Fuchs.

Under the coaching staff's tutelage, Maddie Zimmer and Bente Baekers both earned NFHCA First Team All-American honors this season. Zimmer and Baekers were both named First Team All-Big Ten as well, along with Kayla Blas who was named to the Second Team.

READ MORE: 'Trust in Us - How Northwestern Reached the Final Four'

Tracey Fuchs wraps up her 13^th season leading the Wildcats with her first NCAA Championship as a head coach, after previously winning titles with UCONN as a player and Michigan as associate head coach. Fuchs has helped Northwestern achieve a winning record in 12 of her 13 seasons in Evanston, while also leading the Wildcats to two Big Ten titles.

Associate head coach Georgia Holland has been instrumental in the Wildcats' success in her four seasons with the program. Holland joined Northwestern as an assistant coach in 2018 before being promoted to associate head coach in Feb. 2021.

Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Will Byrne earns his first National Championship as a coach after six seasons with the program. Byrne has helped assemble powerful Northwestern rosters, with the 'Cats compiling a 81-44 record during his tenure.