Diane Madl Position: Head Coach Experience: Seventh Season Alma Mater: Connecticut '89

Diane Madl has settled in quite nicely as head coach of the Providence College field hockey team, and embarks on her seventh season with the squad in 2008. She was hired as the program's sixth head coach all-time on February 4, 2002. Since her arrival, she has transformed the field hockey program into a contender in the BIG EAST Conference and put the Friars back on the map among some of the top programs in the country. In what began as a rebuilding process in 2002, Madl has compiled an overall record of 64-58 in six seasons, including a 32-12 mark that spans each of the last two seasons (2006-07). During that two-year time frame, Madl's worth has been fully recognized on Smith Hill.

In what is described as one of the most successful seasons in program history, the Friars posted an 18-4 overall record in 2006 and captured the BIG EAST Conference Regular-Season title with a 5-1 mark in league play. Providence's 18 victories during that campaign are tied for second most all-time in program history, while the Friars' five league victories marks a program best. More impressive was Providence's record versus nationally-ranked opponents at 5-3. The program quickly found itself among the nations best and was ranked in the NFHCA Division I National Coaches' Poll for nine-consecutive weeks, including seven-straight weeks in the top-15. At season's end, the Friars earned a final ranking of 11th in the nation. Additionally, Madl was honored as the BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Year, Dita/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region Coach of the Year and Words Unlimited Coach of the Year. To honor Madl further, Athletics Director Robert G. Driscoll, Jr., awarded Madl with a contract extension through 2010.

Madl wasn't the only Friar to reap the benefits of an impressive season. Lauren Sickel and Rachel Chamberlain became the first Friars since 1997 to claim All-America honors, as both players were named to the third team. Chamberlain was tabbed BIG EAST Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and was one of five players to earn All-BIG EAST honors. Among the five All-BIG EAST selections, three Friars were awarded First-Team status, marking the most First-Team honorees during a single-season in program history. Providence also placed five Friars on the NFHCA Division I All-Northeast Region Team.

The ride continued in 2007, as the Friars posted a 14-8 overall record, including a 4-2 mark in the BIG EAST. The Friars advanced to the BIG EAST Championship game for the second-straight season, after defeating No. 11 Louisville, 2-0, in the semifinal game held at Coyne Field in Syracuse, N.Y. on November 3. The Friars dropped a heartbreaking, 1-0, decision to No. 4 Connecticut in the championship game the following day. The Huskies found the back of the cage during the final three minutes of play to secure the victory - and eventually went on to represent the BIG EAST Conference at the NCAA semifinals. Despite the loss, the Friars proved they have arrived to the elite level of collegiate field hockey - showing their ability to compete day in and day out with the top teams in the nation. Individual accolades rushed in, once again in 2007. Chamberlain was tabbed BIG EAST Conference Goalkeeper of the Year for the second-straight season. Five Friars were named All-BIG EAST and NFHCA All-Northeast Region selections.

During Madl's six seasons on the sidelines, she has mentored two of the 32-year old program's eight All-America selections. She also has helped to develop a total of 18 All-BIG EAST selections and 18 All-Northeast Region honorees. More importantly, her team's have competed just as fiercely in the classroom. Madl has had the privilege of coaching 15 student-athletes who have earned NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad honors a total of 30 times, and 33 players who have been named to the BIG EAST Academic All-Star Team a total of 66 times.

Madl, a native of Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, was a three-sport stand-out in field hockey, basketball and softball at Crestwood High School. Upon completion of her high school career, she went on to play field hockey at the University of Connecticut from 1985-88. While at UConn, she helped the Huskies capture the NCAA Division I National Championship in 1985. She was a two-time All-America selection as a junior and senior (1987, 1988) and earned the prestigious Honda Broderick Award upon the completion of her career, as the top collegiate field hockey player in the nation. Madl also excelled in the classroom at Connecticut, where she earned Academic All-America honors and graduated magna cum laude, with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1989.

Madl went on to play for the U.S. National Team and competed in a multitude of events for Team USA, including the World University Games (1989), World Cup (1990), Inter-Continental Cup (1989 and 1995) and the Champions Trophy (1995). She reached the pinnacle of her playing career in 1996 as a member of the U.S. National Team that competed in the Olympic Games, held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Even with the demands of collegiate field hockey as head coach at Providence College, Madl still finds time to give back to U.S. Field Hockey. She remains very active with the Futures Program, having coached the U-19 team in the USA/Canadian Challenge Cup (2005) and assisted the U-16 team that participated in the U.S. Olympic Development Select/Futures Elite International Easter Tournament in the Netherlands (2007). Madl also has served as an assistant coach for USA Field Hockey High Performance Women's National Championship New England Team each of the last three years (2006-08). In 2008, she teamed with Boston College Head Coach Ainslee Lamb on the sidelines to help the New England HPTC Team capture the National Title.

Madl's coaching career began at the University of Maine as an assistant coach in 1993. She remained with the Black Bear program for nine seasons until departing for Providence College.

In addition to her success at Providence College and her activity within the circles of U.S. Field Hockey, Madl served as the camp director for Providence College Field Hockey Day Camps in 2003 and 2004. Since then, she has taken ownership of Circle to Circle Field Hockey Camps, LLC., which came to fruition in 2005. During the summer of 2006, Madl added a Team Camp to her Circle to Circle summer circuit and has flourished, becoming one of the top camp organizations in the Northeast.

Madl was inducted into the Luzerne County (Pa.) Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005, and was recently inducted into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Hall of Fame on May 18, 2008. She is the daughter of Ruth Ann and David Madl.