Joanie Milhous enters her 24th season as the head field hockey coach at Villanova University. Milhous begins the 2018 season with a 207-231 career record as a Wildcat and an overall record of 229-271-4.
Last season (2017) the team finished 7-10 overall and 3-4 in conference play. The Wildcats finished 7th in the BIG EAST.
In May of 1995, Milhous arrived at Villanova University after a four-year coaching stint at nearby Cabrini College. In just four years, Milhous completely turned the program around. After recording only one win in her first season, Milhous closed her career at Cabrini with an 11-win season in 1994, earning her 1994 Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors.
Milhous' accomplishments at Villanova have followed a similar trend. Prior to entering the upcoming 2010 season, her teams have posted 11 consecutive winning records dating back to 1998 totaling 131 victories. These past 11 seasons have been highlighted by seven BIG EAST Tournament appearances, with three of those leading to the BIG EAST Championship game.
In addition to her role as the head field hockey coach, Milhous served as the women's lacrosse head coach from 1997-00. During her three seasons directing the women's lacrosse program the Wildcats posted a 10-38 record. At the end of the 2000 season she stepped down from her position in order to concentrate entirely on field hockey.
Milhous graduated in 1991 from the College of William & Mary where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. While attending William & Mary she was a standout for both the field hockey and women's lacrosse programs.
In field hockey Milhous was a two-time Regional All-American and two-time All-Conference selection, as well as being chosen team captain for her senior season.
She ended her career as the seventh leading scorer in Tribe history. In addition to her success in field hockey, she earned equal rewards for her play on the lacrosse pitch. After being named team captain, she also received Regional All-American and All-Conference honors. In each of her four seasons playing lacrosse, the Tribe was nationally ranked. She was voted to participate in the North/South Senior All-Star game in both field hockey and lacrosse.
Milhous served as President of the BIG EAST Conference Field Hockey Site Committee in 1998 and was also a board member of the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association from 1998-2000, representing the Philadelphia area colleges.
A native of Wynnewood, Pa., Milhous and her husband, Stowe, reside in Villanova, Pa. with their three children, Stowe Jr. and twins Tucker and Madison.
Coaching Experience: 229-271-4 (27 years)
Coaching Honors & Achievements:
1999, 2005 BIG EAST Coach of the Year
1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2018 BIG EAST Tournament Appearances
1994 Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
2 ECAC Tournament Appearances