FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- July 27, 2004
CONTACT: Jason Mucher,
Director of Athletic Communications (585) 567-9648
HOUGHTON NAMES FIELD HOCKEY HEAD
COACH
HOUGHTON, N.Y.
–
Briana Burghardt has
been named head coach for the Houghton College women’s field hockey program for
the 2004 season, Houghton Athletic Director Skip Lord announced today.
 Burghardt
will serve in an interim capacity as the department continues to search for a
permanent replacement for former coach Donna Hornibrook. Hornibrook took the
head coaching position at Cornell University in the spring after nine seasons
with the Highlanders.
“It gives me great
pleasure to be able to announce an interim arrangement that will allow our
quality program to continue to grow and develop while we seek God’s direction
for a more long-term coaching solution,” said Lord.
Burghardt, a 2004
Houghton graduate, was a three-year starter for the Highlanders until a knee
injury ended her playing career in 2002. A defender, Burghardt tallied nine
goals and eight assists in her career. She moved to the sideline as a
student-assistant under Hornibrook last fall.
“Although Briana is
obviously young for such an important position, she does bring a wealth of
field hockey experience, as both a player and a coach,” said Lord. “It was
actually Coach Hornibrook’s strong recommendation to us that helped to solidify
our choice of Briana as our interim coach. She brings a familiarity with the
players and with Houghton College to her new position and we are absolutely
convinced that she will do an awesome job with this highly skilled group of
outstanding veterans and gifted newcomers.”
Lord also announced
that Alicia Mucher will continue to act as field hockey administrator for the
2004-2005 academic year. An assistant for the women’s basketball program,
Mucher handled field hockey recruiting and scheduling for the upcoming season
after Hornibrook’s departure.
“Alicia is a veteran
coach who knows Houghton and has a well-established relationship with the new
recruits,” said Lord. “Her continuing in this position will give stability to
the team as we plan for the exciting things that God has in store for their
future.”
Houghton, founded by The Wesleyan
Church in 1883, provides an academically challenging, Christ-centered education
in the liberal arts and sciences to students from diverse traditions and
economic backgrounds and equips them to lead and labor as scholar-servants in a
changing world. The college of 1,300
students is located in Western New York, just 65 miles from Rochester and
Buffalo.
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