Lacrosse Magazine, a publication of US Lacrosse, announced today that Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern women's lacrosse coach, is the magazine's 2008 Person of the Year.
Baltimore, MD (Vocus) December 2, 2008 -- Lacrosse Magazine, a publication of US Lacrosse, announced today that Kelly Amonte Hiller, Northwestern women's lacrosse coach, is the magazine's 2008 Person of the Year.
Amonte Hiller captured her fourth straight NCAA Division I championship last spring, solidifying what many are calling a "dynasty." She is 111-24 in seven seasons as a head coach, including a 21-1 record in 2008.
"Very little success in life is attained without taking risks and pushing preconceived limits. Kelly Amonte Hiller does both regularly, and she's rewarded for that," said Paul Krome, editor of Lacrosse Magazine. "She took a gamble on Northwestern in 2000 and has since done what many in the sports world thought inconceivable -- build a lacrosse powerhouse in the Midwest. Despite a somewhat younger midfield and an attack unit that graduated a two-time Tewaaraton Award winner, she led the Wildcats to a fourth consecutive NCAA championship in 2008. She is constantly pressing for more on behalf of her team and the women's game, and that drive is a big reason why we selected her Lacrosse Magazine's Person of the Year."
Amonte Hiller's team is famous for more than its winning record. In 2005, the team made headlines when the group showed up the White House for NCAA Day of Champions in flip-flops. After all of the media attention, the Wildcats auctioned off their flip-flops on eBay for a charity close to their heart, Friends of Jaclyn. The charitable organization is named for Jaclyn Murphy, a 13 year-old diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2004, a fixture on Northwestern's sidelines.
"I'm honored to be named Lacrosse Magazine's Person of the Year," said Amonte Hiller. "If there's a lesson to pass on from this, it's that girls and women involved in lacrosse should never stop pursuing their goals in this sport -- no matter how far-fetched others may perceive those goals to be. Whether it's making the varsity roster, winning a championship or getting your program recognized nationally, just don't stop. Women's lacrosse has grown a lot over the last decade, but there is still so much more we can do."
Lacrosse Magazine's Person of the Year was initiated in 2007 and John Danowski, Duke men's head coach, was the inaugural winner. The Person of the Year will be an annual honor reserved for the person who has had a tremendous positive influence on the sport and transcended all levels of the game in that given year. A complete 2008 year in review, including the cover feature on Amonte Hiller, will run in the December issue of Lacrosse Magazine.
Lacrosse Magazine
Lacrosse Magazine is a monthly publication of US Lacrosse, the national governing body of the sport of lacrosse. The magazine has an annual readership of 3.6 million and is distributed nationally to the membership of US Lacrosse. For more information on Lacrosse Magazine visit www.laxmagazine.com.
US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the national governing body for men's and women's lacrosse. US Lacrosse has more than 250,000 members in 60 regional chapters around the country. Through responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse strives to provide programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the game. To learn more about US Lacrosse, please visit www.uslacrosse.org.
NOTES FOR MEDIA:
Picture of Kelly Amonte Hiller is attached. Credit the image to Northwestern University.
Contact:
Colleen Sperry Aungst
P: (410) 235-6882 Ext. 155
C: (315) 427-9265
E: caungst (at) uslacrosse.org
Background Information:
www.uslacrosse.org
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