Northwestern University Athletics
Fuchs Signs Multi-Year Contract Extension
2/10/2022 10:35:00β―AM | Field Hockey
EVANSTON, Ill.Β β Northwestern field hockey head coach Tracey Fuchs has agreed to a multi-year contract extension,Β Combe Family Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Derrick Gragg announced on Thursday.
"Tracey Fuchs led the Wildcats to the pinnacle of their sport this fall, but that was just the latest example of the foundation for success she's built in Evanston," said Gragg. "She has turned Northwestern into a national powerhouse, recruiting and developing exceptional student-athletes who proudly represent our University. The culture she has created has Wildcats field hockey positioned for excellence for years to come."
Fuchs capped her 13th season at the helm this fall with the team's first NCAA Championship. She led the Wildcats past Liberty in a 2-0 win in the title game after toppling perennial contenders North Carolina, Iowa and Harvard in the first rounds of the tournament. Northwestern has been elevated back to national powerhouse standing under her care, having made the NCAA Tournament five times, including each of the last three seasons.
"The 13 years that I have spent at Northwestern have been phenomenal," said Fuchs. "The trust and support that I have received from Dr. Gragg and from my fellow coaches and colleagues is unmatched in my career, and undoubtedly contributed to winning the national championship this year.Β Β I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to continue to work with our best-in-the-country staff and student athletes as we pursue another championship next year and beyond!Β Β Go Cats!"
A native of Centereach, New York, Fuchs has compiled a record of 176-94 (.654) during her time in Evanston, the 11th best win percentage among active D1 head coaches with 10 or more years at their current program. She alsoΒ became the winningest head coach in program history during the 2021 spring season, surpassing Nancy Stevens at 141 career wins. Northwestern has been ranked in the top-25 of the final NFHCA poll in each of the last 10 seasons, and has made the top-25 of every poll released since at least the start of the 2018 season.
She has dominated in the Big Ten during her tenure, finishing in the top five of the conference in all 13 seasons. Fuchs lifted Northwestern to the Big Ten regular season title in 2013 and the Big Ten Tournament title in 2014.
En route to becoming national champions this year, Fuchs' squad went 18-5 with nine wins in the regular season over top-25 teams, including a road win over then-No. 1 Iowa. Two Wildcats, Bente Baekers and Maddie Zimmer, were elected to the All-Big Ten First Team after the season. She has seen 21 Wildcats named to the All-Big Ten First Team since taking over in 2009.
Fuchs is a legendary figure as both a player and coachΒ and serving as a leader on the United States National Team for nearly two decades. Fuchs was on staff as an assistant coach for a Team USA squad that captured its first-ever Pan American Games gold medal and earned an automatic bid to the 2012 Olympics in London. During the summer of 2013, she was an assistant coach for Team USA at the Junior World Cup in Germany. In April 2014, Fuchs received the ultimate honor in the sport as she was elected to the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame.
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"Tracey Fuchs led the Wildcats to the pinnacle of their sport this fall, but that was just the latest example of the foundation for success she's built in Evanston," said Gragg. "She has turned Northwestern into a national powerhouse, recruiting and developing exceptional student-athletes who proudly represent our University. The culture she has created has Wildcats field hockey positioned for excellence for years to come."
Fuchs capped her 13th season at the helm this fall with the team's first NCAA Championship. She led the Wildcats past Liberty in a 2-0 win in the title game after toppling perennial contenders North Carolina, Iowa and Harvard in the first rounds of the tournament. Northwestern has been elevated back to national powerhouse standing under her care, having made the NCAA Tournament five times, including each of the last three seasons.
"The 13 years that I have spent at Northwestern have been phenomenal," said Fuchs. "The trust and support that I have received from Dr. Gragg and from my fellow coaches and colleagues is unmatched in my career, and undoubtedly contributed to winning the national championship this year.Β Β I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to continue to work with our best-in-the-country staff and student athletes as we pursue another championship next year and beyond!Β Β Go Cats!"
A native of Centereach, New York, Fuchs has compiled a record of 176-94 (.654) during her time in Evanston, the 11th best win percentage among active D1 head coaches with 10 or more years at their current program. She alsoΒ became the winningest head coach in program history during the 2021 spring season, surpassing Nancy Stevens at 141 career wins. Northwestern has been ranked in the top-25 of the final NFHCA poll in each of the last 10 seasons, and has made the top-25 of every poll released since at least the start of the 2018 season.
She has dominated in the Big Ten during her tenure, finishing in the top five of the conference in all 13 seasons. Fuchs lifted Northwestern to the Big Ten regular season title in 2013 and the Big Ten Tournament title in 2014.
En route to becoming national champions this year, Fuchs' squad went 18-5 with nine wins in the regular season over top-25 teams, including a road win over then-No. 1 Iowa. Two Wildcats, Bente Baekers and Maddie Zimmer, were elected to the All-Big Ten First Team after the season. She has seen 21 Wildcats named to the All-Big Ten First Team since taking over in 2009.
Fuchs is a legendary figure as both a player and coachΒ and serving as a leader on the United States National Team for nearly two decades. Fuchs was on staff as an assistant coach for a Team USA squad that captured its first-ever Pan American Games gold medal and earned an automatic bid to the 2012 Olympics in London. During the summer of 2013, she was an assistant coach for Team USA at the Junior World Cup in Germany. In April 2014, Fuchs received the ultimate honor in the sport as she was elected to the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame.
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Players Mentioned
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