These five top-ranked coaches on 2aDays all have an awe-inspiring history. They are well-respected by their peers and by the student-athletes who play for them, and you will likely see their teams in championship tournaments this year.
2aDays is happy to announce the top five college field hockey coaches on LRT.
- Kelly Doton – Boston College – NCAA I – ACC – Overall Rating 4.6.
There is no doubt that coach Doton belongs in 2aDays' top five field hockey coaches list. In the 2015 season, Coach Doton helped the BC team advance to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals for the first time since 1998. Her players give her exceptional ratings in all categories, specifically her intensity and knowledge. One player comments, “Kelly Doton knows the game of field hockey better than any other coach I have had. She knows what it takes to win and fosters a team culture of success both on and off the field.”
- Carolyn King Robataille – Saint Anselm College – NCAA II – Northeast 10 – Overall Rating 4.6.
King remains the king of field hockey's Division II coach collection. With titles like Northeast-10 and NFHCA East Region Coach of the Year, it is clear to see why she ranks in our top five. Robataille's players achieve above and beyond on the field and the classroom. She coached four First Team choices, eight Second Team All-NE10 choices, and four NE10 All-Rookie players. King's players praise her for her motivational skills. With consistent 5.0 ratings in the motivational category, one player states, “She pushes you to be the best player you can be. She knows when players have not peaked and will keep pushing you until she knows you've reached your fullest potential.”
- Brooke Good – Messiah College – NCAA III – MAC Commonwealth – Overall Rating 4.7.
Coach Good knows what's good as she barrels into the top five. All through her five years as a coach at Messiah, Good compiled an 85-24 overall record. Good's team consistently qualifies for the NCAA tournament each season. Her impressive history continues to grow into an astonishing future. Last season, Good led her team to their first-ever NCAA Division III National Championship. They also sustained a perfect 22-0 record against Division III competition. Players say they “Love her!” Her team highly rates her accessibility and knowledge.
- Nancy Stevens – University of Connecticut – NCAA I – Big East – Overall Rating 4.8.
Following closely behind, Nancy Stevens' record speaks for itself. She compiled a .771 winning percentage during her past 38 seasons. With 27 seasons under her belt at UConn, Stevens coached her team to two national championships. Nancy's players promptly promote her abilities with ratings as high as a perfect 5.0 and no lower than 4.4. Stevens received all 5's on the knowledgeable portion of the rating scale. Her players believe that she knows the game. One player stated, “Coach Steven's winning record shows exactly how successful she's been in her career. She knows what she's doing.”
- Missy Meharg – University of Maryland – NCAA I – Big Ten –Overall Rating 4.9.
With consistent winning records and high ratings from her student-athletes, it is no surprise that Missy Meharg is the number one rated field hockey coach at 2aDays. After 28 years of coaching, Meharg holds a career win/loss percentage of 0.803. She coached her team to 7 National Championships, and her team consistently remains top in the nation. Half of Missy's players gave her a perfect 5.0 rating, and the rest border this phenomenal status. Grateful players commented, “Missy always works hard for the team, and it shows all of the time.” Every rating promotes Meharg's championship attitude, her ability to make the team a family, and her unmatchable skill set. Our CEO and founder, Keirsten Sires, had the privilege of interviewing Missy. We asked Keirsten what the vibe like when you interviewed Coach Megharg was. Keirsten's response was: “I loved with Missy. Her passion is her sport (field hockey); she truly loves what she does, loves her players, but most important, her goal is to help her athletes feel good about themselves; she wants them to work hard and enjoy what they do. The cool part of the interview was that I actually felt her passion when we talked. I could sense she wanted her athletes to be the best that they can be.” This is why Missy is one of the best coaches in the country. She is one in a million.
* Originally published on October 23, 2017, by Sara Komer
