Wellesley's Julia King Named Regional Coach of the Year
WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College head field hockey coach, Julia King, was named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) New England East Region Coach of the Year on Wednesday. This is the first regional honor for King.
King, along with assistant coach Callie Lekas and goalie coach Emileigh Mercer, led the 2013 Blue to an 18-4 record and a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight. Wellesley set a program record for wins this season, while capturing the NEWMAC Championship for the first time since 2002. King was also named NEWMAC Coach of the Year.
In addition to the team accolades for Wellesley this year, King guided two players to All-America honors in junior midfielder Nathalie Gruet and senior goalkeeper Brit Mscisz. The Blue had five All-Region players and five All-NEWMAC players, while Gruet was named Regional and NEWMAC Player of the Year.
In three years at the helm of the Blue, King has compiled an overall record of 40-21. Wellesley field hockey has qualified for the NEWMAC playoffs in each of the last three seasons, after not making the playoffs with a 5-11 mark the year before King took over.
Earlier this month, Synapse Sports (formerly womensfieldhockey.com) named King their Division III National Coach of the Year.
The Wellesley coaching staff looks on during a 2-0 win over then #17 Trinity in September.
2013 NFHCA Regional Coaches of the Year
2013 4U Field Hockey / NFHCA Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year
Jenelle Anthony, Centre College
2013 4U Field Hockey / NFHCA New England East Region Coach of the Year
Julia King, Wellesley College
2013 4U Field Hockey / NFHCA New England West Region Coach of the Year
Nicky Pearson, Bowdoin College
2013 4U Field Hockey / NFHCA North Atlantic Region Coach of the Year
Beth Hallenbeck, Skidmore College
2013 4U Field Hockey / NFHCA South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year
Beth Gottung, Montclair State University
2013 4U Field Hockey / NFHCA South Region Coach of the Year
Dawn Chamberlin, Salisbury University