Nov. 1, 2008
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The accolades continue for women's lacrosse head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, as she is one of 12 inductees into the Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame class of 2008. She will be honored along side notables such as PGA golfer Phil Mickelson, former tennis player and current analyst Mary Carillo and former MLB pitcher John Franco.
Amonte Hiller graduated from Maryland in 1996 and played women's lacrosse and soccer for the Terrapins. She was a four-time lacrosse All-American, two-time national champion and 1996 ACC Female Athlete of the Year and Player of the Year. She ranked second all-time in collegiate assists and was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary women's lacrosse team. Additionally, Amonte-Hiller was a 2nd team All-American in soccer. She went on to become a member of the U.S. World Cup team.
Amonte Hiller became the head coach of the Northwestern women's lacrosse team in 2000, bringing the program back to varsity status after operating for nearly 20 years as a club sport. Since then, she has compiled an impressive 111-24 record (.822) and has led the Wildcats to four-straight NCAA national championships. As good as she has been in the regular season, Amonte Hiller has been even better in the postseason, compiling a 17-1 record (.944) in the NCAA tournament as the `Cats have won their last 16 tournament games. She has also guided NU to five-straight American Lacrosse Conference championships and has been named the IWLCA National Coach of the Year twice (2005 and 2008).
The Hall of Fame, which is based in Chicago, is hosting its annual Induction and Awards Gala at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center on Saturday, Nov. 1.
National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame 2008 Inductees
Kelly Amonte Hiller - Northwestern University head women's lacrosse coach
Phil Mickelson - PGA Golfer
Mary Carillo - Former French Open champion, tennis commentator
John Franco - Former MLB pitcher
John Gagliardi - St. John's University head football coach
Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. - Former owner of San Francisco 49ers
John Smith - Two-time Olympic wrestling champion
Art Martori - Former president of USA Wrestling
Alfred Faragalli - Former professional bowler
Ed Giacomin - NHL Hall of Fame goalkeeper
Frank Lentine - Former professional softball player
Lou Zamperini - Olympic distance runner