Wake Forest Extends Contract for Field Hockey Head Coach Jennifer Averill
5/24/2023 12:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
In 31 years as head coach at Wake Forest, Averill has built the Wake Forest program into a perennial national power, claiming three-straight national championships in 2002-04 while winning over 400 matches and four ACC titles.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest and eight-time ACC Field Hockey Coach of the Year Jennifer Averill have agreed to a long-term contract extension, Director of Athletics John Currie announced on Wednesday.
"I'm honored to continue to lead Wake Forest field hockey," said Averill. "As my passion continues to flourish, so does my growth and humility in this profession. Our exceptional staff and incredibly talented student-athletes look forward to building champions."
"Coach Jen Averill is a three-time national champion and leads our storied field hockey program with integrity and by developing student-athletes on and off the field," Currie said. "Coach Averill has tutored so many talented All-ACC and All-America players who have gone on to do special things professionally and make Wake Forest proud. Coach Averill and her staff have done a phenomenal job of ensuring that the Demon Deacons are a perennial top-25 program and I believe we are poised to add to our rich tradition of championships in the coming years under her direction."
In 31 years as head coach at Wake Forest, Averill owns a record of 411-224-3 as a Demon Deacon and an overall mark of 431-256-6 in 32 years of coaching.
She has built the Wake Forest program into a perennial national power, guiding the Demon Deacons to three-straight NCAA titles in 2002-04, while finishing as the runner-up in 2006 and 2008. The 2002 title marked the first national championship by a women's athletic program at Wake Forest.
Overall, Averill's squad has been selected to the national tournament 18 times during her tenure, with the most recent selection coming in 2022.
Prior to Averill's arrival in Winston-Salem, Wake Forest had never played in an NCAA Field Hockey postseason match. The Deacs enjoyed 12-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1999-2010.
The ACC recognized Averill's continual improvement with her eight ACC Coach of the Year awards, including her most recent honor after the 2022 regular season.
Her 23rd season in 2014 was another memorable year as part of her decorated history at Wake Forest and one that she will never forget as the Demon Deacons won their fourth ACC Field Hockey Championship in program history. Wake Forest defeated Syracuse, 2-0, in the championship game to take home the title.
The title was Wake Forest's first ACC team title since women's soccer in 2010, and is the athletic department's 47th all-time team ACC Championship.
Averill's accomplishment earned her a seventh-career ACC Coach of the Year honor. The ACC Championship victory marked the program's 450th win and coach Averill's 325th at Wake Forest.
In addition to its 2014 crown, Averill and the Demon Deacons claimed the ACC title in 2002, 2003, and 2006.
Perhaps the most prestigious honor Averill has received came in January of 2010 when she was inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Averill's Honors
"I'm honored to continue to lead Wake Forest field hockey," said Averill. "As my passion continues to flourish, so does my growth and humility in this profession. Our exceptional staff and incredibly talented student-athletes look forward to building champions."
"Coach Jen Averill is a three-time national champion and leads our storied field hockey program with integrity and by developing student-athletes on and off the field," Currie said. "Coach Averill has tutored so many talented All-ACC and All-America players who have gone on to do special things professionally and make Wake Forest proud. Coach Averill and her staff have done a phenomenal job of ensuring that the Demon Deacons are a perennial top-25 program and I believe we are poised to add to our rich tradition of championships in the coming years under her direction."
In 31 years as head coach at Wake Forest, Averill owns a record of 411-224-3 as a Demon Deacon and an overall mark of 431-256-6 in 32 years of coaching.
She has built the Wake Forest program into a perennial national power, guiding the Demon Deacons to three-straight NCAA titles in 2002-04, while finishing as the runner-up in 2006 and 2008. The 2002 title marked the first national championship by a women's athletic program at Wake Forest.
Overall, Averill's squad has been selected to the national tournament 18 times during her tenure, with the most recent selection coming in 2022.
Prior to Averill's arrival in Winston-Salem, Wake Forest had never played in an NCAA Field Hockey postseason match. The Deacs enjoyed 12-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1999-2010.
The ACC recognized Averill's continual improvement with her eight ACC Coach of the Year awards, including her most recent honor after the 2022 regular season.
Her 23rd season in 2014 was another memorable year as part of her decorated history at Wake Forest and one that she will never forget as the Demon Deacons won their fourth ACC Field Hockey Championship in program history. Wake Forest defeated Syracuse, 2-0, in the championship game to take home the title.
The title was Wake Forest's first ACC team title since women's soccer in 2010, and is the athletic department's 47th all-time team ACC Championship.
Averill's accomplishment earned her a seventh-career ACC Coach of the Year honor. The ACC Championship victory marked the program's 450th win and coach Averill's 325th at Wake Forest.
In addition to its 2014 crown, Averill and the Demon Deacons claimed the ACC title in 2002, 2003, and 2006.
Perhaps the most prestigious honor Averill has received came in January of 2010 when she was inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Averill's Honors
- Inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame
- 2010
- NCAA Championships (3)
- 2002, 2003, 2004
- NCAA Semifinal Appearances (10)
- 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2018
- NCAA Tournament Appearances (18)
- 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022
- ACC Championships (4)
- 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014
- ACC Regular Season Championships (4)
- 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
- National Coach of the Year (3)
- 2002, 2003, 2004
- ACC Coach of the Year (8)
- 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2022
- Patriot League Coach of the Year (1)
- 1991
- NFHCA South Region Coach of the Year (4)
- 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006