Morgan Inducted Into National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame

GENEVA, N.Y. – James Madison field hockey Head Coach Christy Morgan was honored by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association with an induction into the NFHCA Hall of Fame, the organization announced on Monday morning.

"When I got the call, I was stunned and super excited," said Morgan. "I think the group of coaches who have been inducted before me have been great leaders and coaches, and I am happy to be a part of that esteemed group. This is an honor and a privilege to be inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame – it's a prestigious group and I am truly blessed."

The Norristown, Pa. native is already a member of the United States Field Hockey Association Hall of Fame, James Madison University Athletics Hall of Fame, and Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame.

The honorees will be recognized on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at the NFHCA Awards Dinner, the culminating event at the 2024 NFHCA Annual Convention in Lake Mary, Florida.

Christy Morgan joined the athletics staff at James Madison University in 1991 after an illustrious playing career at Old Dominion University and stints at the University of New Hampshire and the University of Maryland. Across her 18 seasons at James Madison, spanning from 1991-1999 and 2014 to the present day, Morgan has amassed a 226-132-2 (.628) record. In 1994, Morgan's team finished with a 20-3-1 record, highlighted by capturing the school's first-ever team national championship with the downing of top-ranked North Carolina in shootout fashion.

The national title made Morgan the first person in NCAA field hockey history to win a national championship as both a coach and a player. Previously, the three-time All-American won a trio of national championships at Old Dominion (1982, '83, '84).

Morgan completed her career as ODU's all-time leading scorer with 86 career goals and 133 career points. She is also the school's fifth all-time assist leader with 47. As a freshman, Morgan scored 11 goals as ODU captured their first NCAA crown. As a junior, Morgan scored 23 goals and assisted on 14 others to help lead ODU to its second straight title and, in 1984, Morgan scored 27 goals and assisted on 30 others as the Lady Monarchs rolled up a 23-0 record and outscored opponents, 127-10.

She was also a member of the World Cup team, an alternate on the 1984 United States Olympic squad and later a member of the 1988 United States Olympic team. Morgan graduated in 1985 from Old Dominion University with a degree in Health and Physical Education.

In her first stint with JMU, Morgan led JMU to five NCAA tournament appearances in nine seasons (1993-95, '97, '99), including back-to-back final-four appearances (1994, '95). While at the helm, she also led the Dukes to the 1995 CAA Championship, a 2-1 victory over her alma mater.

After spending the 2000 season as head coach at Davidson, Morgan stepped away from the sport due to health concerns. She returned to the sidelines in 2011, where she was the associate head coach at Wake Forest until 2013 before making her way back to JMU.

Morgan, in her first season back in 2014, led the Dukes to their first CAA Championship game appearance since 2008. Fourth-seeded JMU upset top-seeded No. 18 Northeastern in the CAA Semifinals 3-0 to clinch Morgan's 150th career victory. The 2014 season also saw JMU ranked for the first time since 2010, appearing at No. 20 twice. They finished with a 12-8 overall record and a 3-3 mark in CAA action.

The Dukes' made their sixth-straight CAA Tournament appearance in 2019, earning the No. 4 seed. That season, Coach Morgan notched career win No. 200 with a 1-0 victory over Drexel on October 11.

JMU had one of its most successful seasons in recent history in 2021, going 12-7 on the year and 6-0 in conference play, as Morgan earned CAA Coach of the Year recognition. She guided players to a host of accolades, including the Dukes' first All-American since 2016: Eveline Zwager. Zwager and Diede Remijnse each earned all-region distinctions and eight players earned All-CAA honors.

The 2022 season saw JMU compete as an independent with a rigorous schedule that included eight ranked opponents, six in the top 15. Nonetheless, the Dukes came away with four wins over nationally-ranked teams, including two NCAA Tournament teams in Liberty and Wake Forest. Overall, James Madison finished 10-7, with five of the seven losses decided by one goal, three of which were in overtime. Three Dukes earned All-South Region honors in Zwager (First Team), Remijnse (Second Team), and Kara McClure (Second Team). JMU was ranked as high as 17th in the NFHCA National Coaches Poll and finished the year 22nd.

Morgan enters her 20th season as a head coach with an overall record of 231-146-2 (.609) and is set for another season as an independent program. The Dukes open the season on the road with contests at William & Mary (Aug. 25) and Richmond (Aug. 27). Following the conclusion of the 2023 season, James Madison will officially become an affiliate member of the Mid-American Conference.

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