June 4, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Marisa Didio, head coach of the field hockey team at Northwestern for a total of nine seasons, announced today she will retire from her post at the end of the 2003 season. At that time, associate head coach Kelly McCollum-an NU alum who has spent the last three seasons as Didio's top assistant-will take over as the Wildcats' head coach.
"I've been blessed to coach at Northwestern in two separate decades," said Didio, who led the 'Cats from 1990-94 and returned to Evanston prior to the 2000 season. "I feel very fortunate to conclude my career here."
In her first stint with the Wildcats (1990-94), Didio guided the program to an elite state. In those seasons, she led them to four NCAA Tournament berths including a national semifinal appearance in 1994. That year, the Wildcats went 15-4-1 and won the Big Ten title. On two occasions, her team was ranked No. 1 in the national poll. She compiled a 60-31-5 mark from 1990-94.
In 1993, the 'Cats put together a 12-6-1 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAAs. Didio's 1990 and 1991 teams also qualified for NCAA competition and went a combined 27-10-2.
Entering her ninth season at the helm, Didio has posted a 74-70-4 overall record; her 74 wins is second on NU's all-time wins list, trailing Nancy Stevens' 152. During her tenure, Didio has garnered two coach of the year awards. The first was in 1993, when she grabbed Midwest Regional Coach of the Year honors, and in 1994 she was Big Ten Coach of the Year. Didio has coached 12 All-Americans and two Honda Cup finalists during her NU tenure.
"Having been a head coach at the collegiate level for 24 years, I realize that athletics and coaching will continue to drive my future decisions," she said. "I feel a special affection toward Northwestern, and since my return in 2000 I have had the administration's complete trust and unwavering support in our attempt to again make NU a national power. I will miss coaching at NU; but for now, my focus is the 2003 season."
"While we will miss the many contributions Marisa Didio has made to Northwestern's field hockey program over her two tenures, we look forward to a seamless transition as Kelly McCollum takes over the reins," said Director of Athletics Rick Taylor. "Kelly is an NU alum and has both played for and coached with Marisa. We feel our program will be in good hands."
McCollum will assume her first head coaching job after spending four seasons (including 2003) as an assistant to Didio. She will become the sixth coach in the program's 24-year history.
"I am happy for Marisa," said McCollum. "As her former player, current colleague and friend, I have seen her touch the lives of so many people throughout her career. Her direction, along with the support of the administration, has allowed me to take this step in my career development."
McCollum, a 1995 graduate of Northwestern, was promoted to associate head coach in January of 2003. Along with her responsibilities at NU, McCollum is involved with the Marisa Didio Midwest Field Hockey Clinic, LLC., and the Windy City club program.
"As an alum, I have a strong commitment and loyalty to Northwestern field hockey," said McCollum. "I am looking forward to building upon the program's solid foundation that was built under Marisa's guidance."
Prior to assuming duties at NU, McCollum spent three years as an assistant coach at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass., and two years as an assistant coach at the University of New Hampshire.
"Kelly is both capable and deserving of this opportunity-to direct the future of Wildcat field hockey," said Didio. "In the past three years we have constructed a good team with a great future."
McCollum has been an active coach within the U.S. Field Hockey Organization, and for the past three years has been the head coach for the Under-19 Futures Site, which is held at Northwestern. Most recently, she helped coach the U.S. Under-19 National Team at the 2002 Cal Cup and coached the 2002 B Camp. McCollum also served as a clinician at the 2002 NFHCA Coaches Clinic.
McCollum earned a chemical engineering degree from Northwestern and will complete her MBA at Northeastern this summer. As an athlete at NU, she captained the 1994 Big Ten champion field hockey team that advanced to the NCAA semifinal round and was ranked No. 1 for five consecutive weeks during the season. She was named to the All-American Midwest Regional team and was an All-Big Ten selection in 1993 and 1994.