Wake Forest Athletics
Milestone Win Gives Averill Reason to Reflect
10/25/2019 9:18:00 AM | Field Hockey
Though she celebrated with her team following the 3-1 win over Michigan, Wake Forest field hockey coach Jennifer Averill was shocked to be living in the moment that delivered her 400th career victory.
"It was a surprise," Averill said after the game.
After the Deacs had defeated Miami (Oh.) 2-0 the week before for win No. 399, it would seem natural to know 400 is right around the corner. But Averill was more focused on working to get her young team consistently improving as they entered the game against the Spartans. She wants the Deacs to keep their motivation high and take risks in the right places the rest of the season.
"If we do that, we'll be playing our best hockey at the end of the season," Averill said.
It wasn't until Averill got home that her accomplishment completely set in.
"Initially, it was a shock," she said. "I didn't really fully understand the magnitude of the moment. I was so excited for the girls to have a great match against Michigan State. I was just excited that the kids played well and hard."
During her 28-year tenure as coach at Wake Forest, Averill has collected seven ACC Coach of the Year awards, three national Coach of the Year awards and three NCAA Championships.
Her reflection after the 400th win that evening was deep and profound.
"What an incredible journey," Averill said. "Four hundred to me is a reflection of humility and how much my life has been blessed through this sport. It's not necessarily a celebration of 400 wins as much as so many seasons and how many great young women I've been able to be associated with. So many of those young women have become some of my closest friends."
A four-time All-American at Northwestern as a player, Averill earned the Honda Broderick Award as the nation's best field hockey player as a senior. She competed in two Final Fours and was on the U.S. National Team.
"The sport has taken me on such a personal journey," Averill said. "The greatest reflection I could give about 400 is what a lifeline field hockey has been for me."
She began her coaching career with tenures at Dartmouth and Bucknell, before taking over at Wake Forest in 1992, the same year the program joined the ACC and committed resources for scholarships and facilities. Just seven years later, Averill led the Deacs to their first NCAA Tournament appearance and she claimed her first ACC Coach of the Year award.
"It's been such an incredible playground for me to learn about life, people and leading," she said. "It's been as much about disappointment as victory. When I had time to really reflect, I got nostalgic and appreciative."
Senior forward Kelsey Gill scored the final goal in the win over Michigan State.
"That was awesome," Gill said about the 400th win. "That was a great moment. I respect her so much. It's really cool to see her get recognized for that. She's an incredible coach and completely deserves it."
A walk-on as a freshman, Gill was recently selected to play in the NFHCA Senior Game. That game will be hosted by Wake Forest on Nov. 22.
"I'm super thankful that she's allowed me to be a part of this team and this culture," Gill said. "She's taught me so much. I think I'll always be thankful to her and for the opportunity she's given me.
"She makes Wake hockey."
Wake finished 13-10 a year ago, making a run all the way to the Final Four before losing to North Carolina. Though she has a younger team this season, Averill believes they can still make a run.
"You want growth," she said. "The difference between this year and last — even if we were scoring goals in some of these games, the same deficiencies would be apparent. There have been some really great moments this year of which I need to do a better job of celebrating with the team and help them see the progress. Maybe they're not there yet, but when you add the word 'yet,' there is hope and there is progress toward things that are being accomplished.
"As a coach and a player, you always want to hurry the process. It's not for us to be the scriptwriters for time and experience. Connectedness will create that flow and that efficiency."
"It was a surprise," Averill said after the game.
After the Deacs had defeated Miami (Oh.) 2-0 the week before for win No. 399, it would seem natural to know 400 is right around the corner. But Averill was more focused on working to get her young team consistently improving as they entered the game against the Spartans. She wants the Deacs to keep their motivation high and take risks in the right places the rest of the season.
"If we do that, we'll be playing our best hockey at the end of the season," Averill said.
It wasn't until Averill got home that her accomplishment completely set in.
"Initially, it was a shock," she said. "I didn't really fully understand the magnitude of the moment. I was so excited for the girls to have a great match against Michigan State. I was just excited that the kids played well and hard."
During her 28-year tenure as coach at Wake Forest, Averill has collected seven ACC Coach of the Year awards, three national Coach of the Year awards and three NCAA Championships.
Her reflection after the 400th win that evening was deep and profound.
"What an incredible journey," Averill said. "Four hundred to me is a reflection of humility and how much my life has been blessed through this sport. It's not necessarily a celebration of 400 wins as much as so many seasons and how many great young women I've been able to be associated with. So many of those young women have become some of my closest friends."
A four-time All-American at Northwestern as a player, Averill earned the Honda Broderick Award as the nation's best field hockey player as a senior. She competed in two Final Fours and was on the U.S. National Team.
"The sport has taken me on such a personal journey," Averill said. "The greatest reflection I could give about 400 is what a lifeline field hockey has been for me."
She began her coaching career with tenures at Dartmouth and Bucknell, before taking over at Wake Forest in 1992, the same year the program joined the ACC and committed resources for scholarships and facilities. Just seven years later, Averill led the Deacs to their first NCAA Tournament appearance and she claimed her first ACC Coach of the Year award.
"It's been such an incredible playground for me to learn about life, people and leading," she said. "It's been as much about disappointment as victory. When I had time to really reflect, I got nostalgic and appreciative."
Senior forward Kelsey Gill scored the final goal in the win over Michigan State.
"That was awesome," Gill said about the 400th win. "That was a great moment. I respect her so much. It's really cool to see her get recognized for that. She's an incredible coach and completely deserves it."
A walk-on as a freshman, Gill was recently selected to play in the NFHCA Senior Game. That game will be hosted by Wake Forest on Nov. 22.
"I'm super thankful that she's allowed me to be a part of this team and this culture," Gill said. "She's taught me so much. I think I'll always be thankful to her and for the opportunity she's given me.
"She makes Wake hockey."
Wake finished 13-10 a year ago, making a run all the way to the Final Four before losing to North Carolina. Though she has a younger team this season, Averill believes they can still make a run.
"You want growth," she said. "The difference between this year and last — even if we were scoring goals in some of these games, the same deficiencies would be apparent. There have been some really great moments this year of which I need to do a better job of celebrating with the team and help them see the progress. Maybe they're not there yet, but when you add the word 'yet,' there is hope and there is progress toward things that are being accomplished.
"As a coach and a player, you always want to hurry the process. It's not for us to be the scriptwriters for time and experience. Connectedness will create that flow and that efficiency."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Field HockeySteve Forbes - Postgame Presser vs. Navy
Thursday, March 19
Jake Dickert Pre-Spring Press Conference (March 18, 2026)
Wednesday, March 18
Wake Forest Women's Golf: Kim Lewellen Women's History Month Feature
Monday, March 16
Men's Basketball Postgame Presser vs. Clemson, 2026 ACC Tournament
Thursday, March 12