Wake Forest Athletics
Field Hockey Associate Head Coach Neil Macmillan Heads To Ohio
2/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Feb. 4, 2005
Winston-Salem, NC - Field Hockey's associate head coach Neil Macmillan has left Wake Forest to accept the head coaching job at Ohio University. In his six years with the Deacons, Macmillan helped lead Wake Forest to six NCAA Tournament appearances, five final four appearances and three straight national championships. Prior to his arrival, Wake Forest had never been to the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament.
"I was very happy and honored to be involved with a great group of players and coaches at Wake Forest," said Macmillan. "But I look forward to the new challenge of being the head coach."
Macmillan will become Ohio University's 10th head field hockey coach since beginning the program in 1965, announced Associate Director of Athletics Amy Dean Jan. 28.
"We are all very excited to have a coach of Neil Macmillan's caliber join our staff," said Dean. "He is a proven winner who is dedicated to the student-athlete ideals of academic and athletic achievement. We fully expect Coach Macmillan to continue the elevation of Ohio Field Hockey within the Mid-American Conference and at the national level."
The Bobcats finished the 2004 season with a 7-15 record. The team returns 13 players, including seven starters, to next years roster.
Macmillan was in charge of goalkeepers and assisted with the outfield and the backfield during his tenure at Wake Forest. He also diagramed the team's penalty corners, of which the Deacons took 210 in 2004. Off the field, he assisted with recruiting, scheduling, game film review and managing the team's travel plans.
From 2000-03, Macmillan coached 2003 first team All-American Katie Ridd, who held opponents to just 13 goals that season and led the Deacons to their second straight ACC and NCAA Championships. In 2002, Macmillan and his goalkeeper shut out opponents in the NCAA Tournament, en route to the program's first ever national crown. The Deacons became only the second school to hold opponents scoreless in the tournament. In 2004, Macmillan guided current Deacon keeper Kristina Gagliardi to eight shutouts, including ones in the semifinal and final games of the NCAA Tournament.
"Although we are sad to see Neil leave we are extremely excited and thrilled for him," said Deacon head coach Jennifer Averill. "Neil will make a major impact upon Ohio's hockey program, institution and conference. He is a gifted coach but an even greater individual. We wish him the best of luck and look forward to following his progress."
In 1996, Macmillan earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from England's University of Loughborough, where he was the goalkeeper for their 1994-95 national championship squad, as well as for their runner-up team the following season. Macmillan began his coaching career at the Stamford School in England, where he served as the Under-18 coach for three seasons, also teaching mathematics, before coming to Wake Forest.
In addition to his responsibilities at Wake Forest, Macmillan was an assistant coach of the USFHA Summer league team, Southern Charm, which won the league championship in 2001.
Macmillan's playing resume is full as well. From 1982 to 1992, he played for the Havant Hockey club in his hometown of Havant, England. In both 1991 and 1992, his team won the national championship and competed in the European Club Championships. His team won the title at the European Cup Winner's Cup in 1991, and in 1992, he was a goalkeeper on the European Club Championship squad. In the 1992-93 season, Macmillan played in Australia as a member of Gippsland, which also won the state championship. Macmillan then returned to England to attend the University of Loughborough.
Macmillan has minded the net for such teams as the Midlands Universities, a Divisional Team, and the Beeston Hockey Club, a National League Division I English team. In the three seasons before coming to Wake Forest, Macmillan played for the St. Albans Hockey Club, also a member of the National League Division I.
"I want to say thank you to all the staff at Wake Forest for all of their help and support over my six seasons here," Macmillan said. "I will miss the people and the place very much."
