EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the second time in as many years, head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller as been named the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division I National Coach of the Year. Amonte Hiller wins the award for the second consecutive season and the third time in her career, capturing Coach of the Year honors in 2005 as well.

Amonte Hiller guided the Wildcats to a 23-0 record and their fifth-straight national championship in 2009, shattering NCAA scoring records in the process. The 2009 Wildcats set the Division I records for both points (570) and goals (407), boasting an offense that ranked first in the country, scoring 17.70 goals per game. At the other end of the field, NU was dangerous as well, fielding a scoring defense that allowed only 6.87 goals per game, second in the nation. Northwestern won 14 games by 10 goals or more and also led the nation in draw controls (389) and were the only school to average more than 16 draw controls per game.

In her eight seasons at the helm of the Wildcats, Amonte Hiller has an overall record of 134-24 (.848), including a 106-3 (.972) mark since the beginning of the 2005 season. She has guided the 'Cats to 29 consecutive American Lacrosse Conference victories and five-straight ALC titles. But it is in the postseason where she is at her best. Since Amonte Hiller took over the program in 2002, the Wildcats are 21-1 (.955) in the NCAA tournament, including 20 consecutive victories.

She has coached the last four Tewaaraton Trophy winners (Kristen Kjellman in 2006 and 2007, Hannah Nielsen in 2008 and 2009) as well as over two dozen All-Americans. A four-time All-American player at Maryland, Amonte Hiller helped lead the Terrapins to the national championship in 1995 and 1996, bringing her career total of national championship rings to seven.

2009-07-10