Marybeth Freeman Named Head Field Hockey Coach
4/22/2010 9:45:00 AM | Field Hockey
Marybeth Freeman, a five-time NCAA Division I National Champion as a player and coach, has been named Columbia's next Head Field Hockey Coach, M. Dianne Murphy, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education announced today.
"Marybeth brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a player and coach," Murphy said. "She is an accomplished teacher and mentor who has worked at the highest levels of the sport, with the United States Field Hockey and US Field Hockey Futures program. As we seek to build an Ivy League Championship field hockey program at Columbia, Marybeth's experience as a member of NCAA Championship teams as a player and coach will be invaluable to our program."
Freeman, who becomes just the fourth field hockey coach in school history, spent seven years at the University of Maryland under legendary coach Missy Meharg. Freeman joined the Terps in 2003, serving as the team's assistant coach until 2006. Meharg then promoted Freeman to associate head coach in 2007. She played an integral role in leading her team to three national titles in 2005, 2006, and 2008, and three ACC Conference titles in 2005, 2008, 2009.
Among her many responsibilities at Maryland, Freeman was responsible for developing the Terps' defense and goalkeeping unit. During her tenure, she worked with three-time All-American Kathryn Masson, who led the nation in goals against average twice, while ranking in the top five in her final three years from 2005-08. Masson was the first-ever Terp goaltender to be honored as a first team All-American in the history of the program.
Freeman is also the head goalkeeping and defense coach for the United States Field Hockey High Performance Mid-Atlantic Region, in addition to working with the US Field Hockey Futures program.
Freeman is a 2002 graduate of Old Dominion and helped the Lady Monarchs to four CAA Conference titles as an undergrad. The four-year starter also led her team to national titles in 1998 and 2000. In addition to her success on the field, Freeman excelled in the classroom as she was a four year NFHCA Academic All-American.
She holds a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from ODU and recently earned her master's in education from the University of Maryland in May 2008.
