Chamberlin named Dita/NFHCA Division III National Coach of the Year

RICHMOND, Va. - The Salisbury University field hockey team couldn't have had a better year in 2009 as the Sea Gulls took home the program's fifth NCAA Division III national championship, and 2010 is shaping up to be just as successful. On Friday, Jan. 8, head coach Dawn Chamberlin was named the 2009 Dita/NFHCA (National Field Hockey Coaches Association) Division III National Coach of the Year.

Chamberlin was named the Dita/NFHCA South Region Coach of the Year back on Dec. 7, just two weeks after she captured her fourth national championship (2003, '04, '05, '09) at the helm of the Salisbury field hockey program. It wasn't the first time Chamberlin had been named South Region Coach of the Year; in fact, she has been given the honor eight times in her 23-year career. Additionally, Chamberlin had been named NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2004, '05) before today's announcement, bringing her total to three. Regionally, Chamberlin has been honored as the Capital Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 13 times, most recently in 2009. The Sea Gulls have won 15 consecutive conference titles under her tutelage.

Chamberlin's tremendous success as a head coach was recognized almost exactly one year ago, on Jan. 17, 2009, as she was inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame. She has coached 52 Division III All-Americans and 101 NFHCA All-South Region players. Her overall record after 23 seasons stands at 356-90-8, putting her in the No. 5 spot on the Division III All-Time Winningest Coaches List (by victories).