Dec. 10, 2008
IOWA CITY, IA – – The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) has named University of Iowa Head Field Hockey Coach Tracey Griesbaum the 2008 Dita/NFHCA West Region Coach of the Year. This marks the first time she has received the honor.
“This is an unbelievable honor,” said Griesbaum. “The work the staff and team put into this season was incredible. We were on a wonderful journey together that began back in November of 2007 and ended at the Final Four a year later. I am very appreciative of Lisa Cellucci and Meridith Thorpe’s commitment to the program. This honor is a reflection of the entire Iowa Field Hockey Program and everyone who supports it.”
Griesbaum, who completed her ninth season at the helm of the program, and the Hawkeyes had quite the season in 2008. She led the Hawkeyes to an overall record of 18-5 and 4-2 in Big Ten play. Iowa captured its third-straight Big Ten Tournament title and has now won nine-straight games in the tournament.
The Black and Gold received the fourth overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes traveled to East Lansing, MI, to compete in the first and second rounds. Griesbaum added her first NCAA Tournament victory with a win over Louisville in the first round and followed that up by defeating Michigan State for the third time during the year in the regional finals. In doing so, the Hawkeyes advanced to the national semifinals for the first time since 1999. There Iowa fell to eventual national champion Maryland 2-1 in double overtime.
Five Hawkeyes were named all-Big Ten in 2008. Thirty-seven Hawkeyes have now earned all-Big Ten accolades under Griesbaum. In addition, six Hawkeyes were named to the academic all-Big Ten team and three garnered all-American honors.
Iowa also earned seven weekly Big Ten honors this season. The seven honors tied a school record set in 1996.
Under Griesbaum, Iowa has been nationally ranked for 22-straight weeks, dating back to 2006. The Hawkeyes have been in the top ten of every weekly poll since the start of 2007.
In Iowa’s win at Stanford on Sept. 13, Griesbaum recorded her 100th career victory at the University of Iowa. She is now 115-63 overall as the head coach of the Hawkeyes.
The 2008 Dita/NFHCA Division I National Coach of the Year will be announced on Jan.16, 2009.