Columbia University Head Coach of Field Hockey Announces Resignation
12/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
NEW YORK (December 3, 2008) ? Columbia head coach of field hockey Katie Beach has announced she is stepping down after five years as the Lions' coach, Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education announced today.
Beach is resigning to relocate with her husband Keith, who will be working at Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd in Hamilton, Bermuda. The Beaches have two children, Madison (three) and Ella (three months).
“Katie has been an exemplary coach and role model during her time here and losing a coach of her caliber is never easy, however I support Katie 100 percent and I wish her and her family the very best as they start this new and exciting chapter in their lives,” Murphy said.
In her five-year tenure, Beach compiled a 42-42 overall record, and leaves Columbia tied as the winningest head coach in the history of our field hockey program.
Inheriting a team that finished 1-16 overall and 0-7 in the Ivy League in 2003, Beach led the program's major turnaround over five years, culminating in an overall record of 11-6, 5-2 Ivy League in 2007. She also established the program's best overall Ivy League finish (second) and totaled the second-best record in program history- twice ? going 11-6 in 2007 and 2008.
Beach's teams have boasted 13 All-Ivy League honorees and six Academic All-Ivy League award winners. She has coached all seven of the Lions' NFHCA All-Region players and the program's first-ever All-American.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision, but in the end it was the best choice for my family,” said Beach. “I loved every moment of my time here and I'm very grateful to Dianne Murphy and the Columbia family for giving me such an outstanding opportunity and continual support during my tenure.”
Jana Wooley, the Lions' assistant coach for the last two seasons, has been named Acting Head Field Hockey Coach, and will be responsible for the management of the field hockey program.
Wooley, a two-time All-American and three-time National Champion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is in her second year with Columbia after serving eight years as an assistant coach at UNC-Chapel Hill.
“I know how much Katie loved coaching here at Columbia and I am very grateful for all her hard work, dedication and commitment to achieving the highest degree of excellence for her student-athletes and the field hockey program,” Murphy said. “I have every confidence that Jana can continue to build on the solid foundation that Katie has established at Columbia.”
