Wiler Steps Away after 13 Years at the Helm of the Field Hockey Program
11/29/2018 10:41:00 AM | Field Hockey
KENT, Ohio – Kent State University Field Hockey coach Kathleen Wiler has announced that she will be stepping down as head coach prior to the 2019 season.
"I want to thank Kathleen for her dedication, hard work and commitment to our field hockey student-athletes and our program for the past 13 seasons," stated Kent State University Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen, "She is a great mentor for the young women in our field hockey program and we wish her, John, and the girls all the best."
Wiler recently completed her 13th season at the helm, inheriting the program following Varsity "K" Hall of Fame selection Kerry De Vries' exit in 2005. She finishes her Kent State career with an overall record of 141-130, 74-26 in Mid-American Conference play. She is Kent State's winningest field hockey coach and holds program records for both Mid-American Conference regular season titles and MAC tournament titles.
"I have been incredibly fortunate to enjoy a rewarding coaching career that began 18 years ago at Kent State as a graduate assistant," stated Wiler, "It's been an honor and a privilege to lead an amazing group of women for the last 13 seasons and I leave confident that the program is positioned for continued success."
In her tenure, Wiler has won eight MAC regular season titles, five tournament titles, and five NCAA post season appearances, including three consecutive tournament titles from 2014-2016. A Five-time MAC Coach of the Year, Wiler has coached six All-American selections, 25 All-Region selections, three MAC Players of the Year and five MAC Newcomers of the Year among her 56 All-MAC selections.
During Wiler's tenure, the program has seen further success in the classroom, having at least nine players named to the NFHCA's National Academic Squad each season.
Wiler guided the program to a historic year in 2014, winning a share of the regular season title before winning the MAC Tournament title at home to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Kent State then topped Delaware, 2-1, in the program's first-ever NCAA postseason win. Reaching the Sweet Sixteen, the Flashes fell to No. 3 UConn to end the historic run.
The 2015 season began with a milestone, as the Golden Flashes posted an overtime win to hand Wiler her 100thcareer victory. The team went on to repeat as both regular season and tournament MAC champions, heading into the NCAA tournament on an eight-game win streak.
In 2016, the team won both the regular season and tournament titles for the third consecutive year and, for the first time since 2010, the team was perfect in MAC play. Academic and athletic excellence continued in the 2017 season as the Flashes notched a new program record with 20 players earning NFHCA Academic honors. On September 15, 2017, Wiler became Kent State's winningest field hockey coach, winning her 127thcareer win, shutting out Appalachian State 3-0 in Boone, N.C.
In her final campaign, Wiler guided the team to an 8-12 overall record, finishing second in the conference regular season (5-1) and second in the conference tournament, falling to Miami in the championship. Five Flashes garnered All-MAC honors and sophomore Clara Rodriguez Setó was named Longstreth/NFHCA Second Team All-Region.
"I am humbled to have been a part of the wonderful family that is Kent State Field Hockey, but I believe now is the right time for me to step aside in order to spend more time with my family," Wiler concluded.
Wiler will remain at Kent State to assist with the transition to new leadership. A national search for her successor will begin immediately.
