LOWELL, MA (Jan. 11, 2008) – Shannon Hlebichuk, fresh off her sixth year as head coach of the UMass Lowell field hockey team, was named the Division II Coach of the Year, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) announced Friday.

The honor marked the third time in the last five years Hlebichuk was named the national coach of the year. She also received the honor following the 2005 and 2003 seasons.

“I am so humbled an honored that the Division II coaches selected me to receive this award,” Hlebichuk said. “This is an award that I share with my coaching staff. I am fortunate to be surrounded by people like Kerry Dudley, Erin Stewart and Lauren Sickel and Kim Villare. They are as equally important to this program as I am, and their dedication has been unwavering.”

UML is fresh off a stellar 19-3 season in 2007 – which included both the NE-10 regular season and tournament titles – and hosted the NCAA Tournament in which it defeated Bentley (2-1, OT) in the semifinal and fell to 13-time champion Bloomsburg 5-2 in the title match.

In her six years at the helm, Hlebichuk and the River Hawks have compiled a sterling 100-31 record (763), which includes, among other feats, five straight Northeast-10 Conference Tournament championships and the 2005 NCAA Division II title.

Hlebichuk has guided UML to NCAA Tournament semifinal appearances five straight years, in which the River Hawks have advanced to the title game three times (2003, 2005, 2007). Additionally, she has led UML to NE-10 regular season titles twice (2005, 2007) and has been named the NE-10 Coach of the Year five straight years.

Awards have been plenty in Hlebichuk's six seasons for her players as well. She has helped guide UML players to all-conference honors 26 times and All-American status 21 times – including five in both the 2004 and 2005 seasons and four in 2007.

The River Hawks graduate one player from the 2007 squad and are expected to return 10 of 11 starters and 21 veterans.

A native of Amesbury, MA, Hlebichuk lives in Nashua, NH.