June 25, 2011
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the third time in four years and the fourth time overall, Northwestern head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller is the recipient of the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division I National Coach of the Year award. Amonte Hiller previously received the honor in 2005, 2008 and 2009.
In winning the NCAA championship for the sixth time in seven years -- and reaching its seventh-straight national title game -- Amonte Hiller's club finished 21-2, with nearly half of those wins (10) coming against top-10-ranked opponents. Amonte Hiller coached a Wildcats side that ranked second nationally in points on the year (415) and fourth in draw controls (15.13 per game).
NU also captured its seventh-consecutive American Lacrosse Conference championship under Amonte Hiller when it bested top-seeded Florida in the tournament title game, 10-9.
Amonte Hiller guided a young 2011 Wildcats squad to 10 wins in games decided by four goals or fewer, including five one-goal victories. That sum includes an 8-7 win in the national championship game win over then-No. 1 Maryland when Amonte Hiller's defensive game plan held the high-powered Terps to their lowest single-game goals total of the season.
In addition, Amonte Hiller mentored the sport's Tewaaraton Award winner for the fifth time in six years in scoring leader Shannon Smith, as well as ALC Rookie of the Year Alyssa Leonard, who was in just her third season playing lacrosse.
Through 10 years at the helm in Evanston, the four-time IWLCA National Coach of the Year honoree has compiled an overall record of 175-28 -- including a 147-7 mark since the start of the 2005 season -- with a 71-1 ledger at Lakeside Field dating to 2004.
IWLCA Division I Coaches of the Year
National Coach of the Year: Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern
Regional Coaches of the Year:
Northeast: John Battaglino, Albany
Mid-Atlantic: Jen Adams, Loyola (Md.)
South: Amanda O'Leary, Florida
West: Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern
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