University of Delaware Athletics
Former UD Athletics Administrator, Coach Mary Ann Hitchens Selected to ECAC Hall of Fame
3/23/2016 1:02:00 PM | Field Hockey, Women's Basketball
DANBURY, Conn. -- Mary Ann Hitchens, a University of Delaware athletics icon and a pioneer nationally in the field of women's athletics throughout her career, has earned induction into yet another Hall of Fame.
Hitchens, who served at the University of Delaware as an athletics administrator and head coach of the women's basketball and field hockey teams during a span that covered nearly 40 years, is among 15 men and women who will honored in the second Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Hall of Fame induction class.
The class will officially be inducted on April 15, 2016 at the ECAC Hall of Fame Gala and Induction Ceremony to be held at the Matrix Conference & Banquet Center in Danbury, Conn.
The 2016 class represents a diverse group of former student-athletes, coaches, administrators, teams, officials and support staff from across decades. Honorees have been selected for outstanding achievements, service, dedication, commitment, and contributions to the ECAC and its member institutions.
“We are excited to induct this group of people into the ECAC Hall of Fame,” said President & CEO Dr. Kevin T. McGinniss. “These individuals have been incredible assets to the ECAC over the years and will now be recognized for their exceptional accomplishments and influence on intercollegiate athletics.”
The ECAC Hall of Fame will mark the fifth Hall of Fame induction for Hitchens, who is also a member of the Delaware Museum and Sports Hall of Fame (inducted in 1997), the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame (1999), and the University of Delaware Wall of Fame (2007). She was inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Hall of Fame this past January, 2016, in Naples, Fla.
“I am very honored to have been selected for the ECAC Hall of Fame Class of 2016,” said Hitchens, who resides in Landenberg, Pa. “It is a most unexpected and truly humbling experience to join the inductees in this, as well as the inaugural class of 2015, who have made such significant and far-reaching contributions to collegiate athletics in our region over the course of their illustrious careers."
“On behalf of everyone involved with University of Delaware Athletics, I want to congratulate Mary Ann on this most prestigious honor,” said Dr. Matt Robinson, UD Interim Director of Athletics and Recreation Services. “Throughout her career in athletics, Mary Ann has had such a positive influence on the lives and careers of countless student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. Her legacy continues today and will continue to do so well into the future. We are proud to call her a Blue Hen and we share in her excitement."
A pioneer in the growth of the University of Delaware's women's athletics program that has produced several nationally recognized teams, Hitchens enjoyed outstanding success during a 37-year tenure with the Blue Hens as a nationally respected multi-sport coach and administrator.
Hitchens joined the UD athletics staff in 1969 as freshman coach of the women's basketball team. The three inaugural programs, field hockey, basketball, and swimming were designated as pilot programs for the first two years of UD's women's athletics program (1969-70 and 1970-71). She was named head varsity coach the following year and led the squads to a combined record of 71-35 and six regional (EAIAW – Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) championship appearances over an eight-year period. During those years, the teams never had a losing season.
She was named head coach of field hockey in 1973 and led the team to a 16-year record of 196-76-30, which included 15 winning seasons, three conference titles, and six national championship playoff appearances, including five top four finishes - a fourth, three thirds and a second place in 1978. During her tenure, she coached nine All-Americans and was East Coast Conference Coach of the Year four times. She stepped down following the 1988 season to devote more time to her duties in athletics administration.
Hitchens served on the ECAC Executive Council from 1983-86, received the ECAC Josten's Distinguished Service Award in 1992 and the ECAC Katherine Ley Award in 2000. the Katherine Ley Awards honors a women's athletics administrator who is a strong proponent of opportunities for women's athletics, a strong leader and a role model for women coaches and administrators.
She also served two terms as president of the North Atlantic Conference, since renamed America East (1992-93 and 1993-94), becoming the first woman to hold that post, in addition to serving the conference as vice-president, field hockey sports committee member, and chair of the Gender Equity Committee. In 1994, she helped coordinate the 25th Anniversary celebration of women's athletics at the University of Delaware, received UD's E. Arthur Trabant Award for Women's Equity, and the National Association of Girls and Women's Sports (NAGWS) Pathfinder Award for the state of Delaware.
A member of UD's Commission on the Status of Women for several years, she served as chair in 1984-85 and 1985-86. She also was a member of the NCAA Field Hockey Committee in 1985-1989, serving as chair the final two years.
In addition, the Mary Ann Hitchens Award has been presented each year since 2007 to an outstanding UD senior female student-athlete "who has exhibited the qualities of hard work, dedication, leadership, fairness, and striving for excellence that were the hallmarks of Hitchens' career".
A native of Milford, Del., Hitchens came to UD as a student in 1963, when intercollegiate athletics opportunities for women did not exist there. She received undergraduate (1967) and graduate degrees (1971) from UD and went on to enjoy outstanding success as head coach of basketball and field hockey Involved in athletics administration from the beginning, she served as Chair of the Women's Intercollegiate Athletics Council, Coordinator of Women's Athletics, Assistant Director of Athletics, Associate Director and for the final eight years as Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Recreation Services. She served as the designated NCAA Senior Woman Administrator for UD from 1977 until her retirement in 2006.
Hitchens will be joined in the Hall of Fame Class by Steve Bamford (Administrator), Plymouth State College, ECAC; Ernie DiGregorio (Athlete), Providence College; Gene Doris (Coach, Administrator), Fairfield University, Marist College, Fordham University; Carolyn Femovich (Administrator) ], Patriot League, University of Pennsylvania; Abie Grossfeld (Coach) Southern Connecticut State University, United States Olympic Men's Gymnastics; Bob Hartwell (Administrator, Coach) Adelphi University, Babson College; Olav Kollevol (Administrator, Athlete, Coach), Lafayette, Colgate, St. Lawrence; Ellie LeMaire (Official, Coach), University of Bridgeport, University of Rhode Island; Frank McLaughlin (Athlete, Administrator), Fordham University; Jack Powers (Athlete, Administrator, Coach), Manhattan College; Jack Riley (Coach), United States Military Academy; Dee Rowe (Coach), University of Connecticut; Carl Ullrich (Coach, Administrator), United States Military Academy, Cornell University, Boston University, United States Naval Academy, Patriot League; and Dick Yoder (Coach, Administrator), West Chester University. The 1972 West Chester State College Women's Swimming & Diving Team will also be honored.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
