LEXINGTON, Va. --- Washington and Lee Director of Athletics Jan Hathorn has announced the appointment of Gina Wills as head field hockey coach and associate professor of physical education effective June 1.
“It is with excitement and enthusiasm that I welcome Gina Wills as our new head coach of field hockey,” said Hathorn. “Gina brings a vast knowledge of field hockey, a commitment to the student athletes on the team, and an understanding of how the integration of athletics fits into the overall mission of the University. Gina's proven track record of success in field hockey at the Division III level, her commitment to excellence, on and off the field, and her belief in the value of the student-athlete model, makes this an excellent fit. I have full confidence in Gina’s ability to lead this program into the future and I look forward to serving beside Gina for many years to come. ”
Wills comes to W&L from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., where she served as the head field hockey coach for the last eight years. In that time, she guided the Tigers to a 121-40 (.752) overall record, four regular-season conference titles and three conference tournament championships.
Wills ranks in the Top 10 among active Division III coaches in career winning percentage, a total which increases to better than 80 percent (.843) over the last four seasons.
Wills was named the 2012 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year and the 2012 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Coach of the Year after leading DePauw to a 21-2 record. The Tigers advanced to the NCAA Semifinals before falling to eventual National Champion, Tufts University. She led her 2013 team back to the NCAA Tournament, while her 2014 team finished 16-3 and fell in the NCAC Semifinals. Her teams have received the NFHCA National Academic Award in each of her eight seasons, while she mentored her athletes to seven NFHCA All-America selections, including a pair of first team honorees. Three of her athletes have been named the Great Lakes Region Player of the Year, while seven played in the NFHCA Senior All-Star game.
“I am honored and excited to join the Athletics Department at Washington and Lee, and would like to thank Jan Hathorn and Dr. Suzanne Keen for this opportunity,” said Wills. “Washington and Lee has a demonstrated commitment to academic and athletic excellence through outstanding faculty and amazing facilities. I will take great pride in building on the strong foundation Wendy Orrison created since starting the program. Working with a group of talented and driven women, I look forward to an exceptional performance for the team both on the field and in the classroom. ”
Active in the sport, Wills has been a coach for the United States Field Hockey Association Futures Program since 2007 and she has served on numerous committees, including the NFHCA All-America Committee, the Senior All-Star Game Committee and the Coach of the Year Committee. She was also part of the NCAA Field Hockey Great Lakes Regional Advisory Committee.
Prior to her time at DePauw, Wills was an assistant field hockey coach at Washington & Jefferson College (2006-07) and Earlham College (2004-06). She is a 2004 graduate of Centre College with a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in history. She lettered in both field hockey and softball, serving as a two-year captain in field hockey and earning second team all-region accolades as a junior.
Wills is currently working towards a Master’s degree in public administration, nonprofit management from IUPUI.
--- This release is courtesy of the Washington and Lee University sports information department. ---
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