Madison to be Inducted into NFHCA Hall of Fame
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July 9, 2013
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The National Field Hockey Coaches Association announced that Virginia field hockey head coach Michele Madison is one of three individuals selected as a member of the Zag Field Hockey / NFHCA Hall of Fame – Class of 2013.
The NFHCA will be welcoming the Class of 2013 into the NFHCA Hall of Fame during the 2013 NFHCA Annual Convention, held Nov. 20-22 in Virginia Beach, Va.
Madison will be honored along with Christine H.B. Grant, former Women’s Athletics Director at the University of Iowa, and Laura Moliken, former head coach at Ursinus College. Additionally, three members of the 2012 NFHCA Hall of Fame class will be honored that weekend including Catherine Brown, former head coach at Ohio University, Linda Dirga, former head coach at Pomperaug High School (Conn.) and Cheryl Murtagh, head coach at Northeastern.
“I am humbled by this honor,” Madison said. “It is such a thrill for me, personally, to join such an elite group as the NFHCA Hall of Fame. I feel additionally privileged to be part of a Hall of Fame class that includes Laura Moliken and Dr. Christine Grant. Dr. Grant was a mentor to me early in my career and she has provided millions of girls and women opportunities in sports through her dedication to Title IX enforcement, so to share this stage with her makes it even more meaningful and special.”
Madison has spent seven seasons at the helm of the Cavalier field hockey program, leading UVa to six NCAA Tournament berths, including national semifinals appearances in 2009 and 2010. In her first year in Charlottesville, Madison orchestrated Virginia’s return to the top-10 and was named the 2006 National Coach of the Year by womensfieldhockey.com.
Madison hit two career benchmarks during the 2012 season. She won the 300th game of her career with the Cavaliers’ 5-4 victory over No. 3 Old Dominion on Sept. 2, becoming just the 26th head coach in NCAA Division I history to hit the 300-win mark. Madison currently ranks ninth among active coaches in career wins. Madison also had her 100th win at Virginia with the Cavaliers’ 3-2 victory over Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, tying her for second place on the Cavalier field hockey career victories.
Madison is the first Virginia coach to be inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame. Since 2000 when the organization announced its initial Hall of Fame class, the coaches’ association has honored 54 individuals, including the three 2013 inductees.
The former head coach at Michigan State from 1993-2005, Madison led the Spartans to their first-ever No. 1 ranking. Michigan State advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times, including two NCAA semifinal berths (2002, 2004) and two quarterfinal appearances (2001, 2003) during her tenure in East Lansing. Madison, named the 2001 Big Ten Coach of the Year, also guided the Spartans to back-to-back conference titles in 2001 and 2002. During the 2002 season, she picked up another coaching honor, being tabbed the West Region Coach of the Year. Madison left Michigan State as the school’s all-time leader in victories.
The Philadelphia native spent four seasons as the head coach at Temple prior to her appointment at Michigan State. At Temple, Madison took the Owls to national championship contention in just her second year at the helm. During Madison’s tenure, the Owls compiled a 53-27-6 record and appeared in three NCAA Tournaments, twice advancing to the quarterfinals. Temple also won the A-10 Conference Tournament Championship in 1991.
Madison additionally served a two-year (1989-90) stint as the assistant coach for the Owl women’s lacrosse team that advanced to the NCAA Semifinals both seasons.
Prior to her position at Temple, Madison served as an assistant coach at Iowa for seven seasons (1982-89). During that span, the Hawkeyes advanced to the Final Four four times and captured their only NCAA championship in 1986.
Madison was inducted into the Gloucester County (N.J.) Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Williamstown (N.J.) High School Hall of Fame in 1992.