Aug. 28, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the third-consecutive year, women's lacrosse head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller has been named the recipient of the Bob Voigts Coach of the Year award at Northwestern. It also marks the fourth time in her career that Amonte Hiller has captured the award, which is voted on by the coaches of all 19 Wildcat sports.
Under Amonte Hiller's guidance, the Wildcats roared to a perfect 23-0 record in 2009, capped by the `Cats' fifth-straight national championship in May. She now has seven national championship rings, including the two she won as an All-American at Maryland.
In her nine years in Evanston, Amonte Hiller has compiled a 134-24 record, including a 38-9 mark in the American Lacrosse Conference. NU has posted a 21-1 record under Amonte Hiller in the NCAA tournament (the best winning percentage in tournament history), including 20-straight postseason victories. She has mentored two Tewaaraton Trophy winners in Kristen Kjellman and Hannah Nielsen, as well as over two dozen All-Americans. Amonte Hiller was also named the IWLCA National Coach of the Year for the third time in her career.
The Bob Voigts Coach of the Year Award goes to a Northwestern head coach selected by their colleagues as the department's coach of the year. The award is named in memory of legendary Northwestern head football coach Bob Voigts. A 1939 graduate of Northwestern, Voigts was an All-American tackle from 1936-38 before taking over the reigns as head football coach from 1947-54 and leading the `Cats to a 1949 Rose Bowl victory.
Voigts and his wife Charlotte are also remembered for their loyalty and service to Northwestern through the Bob and Charlotte Voigts Recognition Scholarship, which is presented annually to a student-athlete who demonstrates outstanding academic and athletic performance.
Women's tennis coach Claire Pollard won the inaugural award in 2004, while softball coach Kate Drohan was the 2006 recipient.
Bob Voigts Coach of the Year Recipients
2004 - Claire Pollard, women's tennis
2005 - Kelly Amonte Hiller, women's lacrosse
2006 - Kate Drohan, softball
2007 - Kelly Amonte Hiller, women's lacrosse
2008 - Kelly Amonte Hiller, women's lacrosse
2009 - Kelly Amonte Hiller, women's lacrosse