STATE COLLEGE, Pa., December 4, 2000 - The postseason honors continue to pile up for the Penn State field hockey team, despite a disappointing first round NCAA Tournament exit and a second-place finish in the Big Ten. This time it is Penn State head coach Charlene Morett who was honored as she was named 2000 Dita/NFHCA Mideast Region Coach of the Year which was announced Monday.

In her 14th season at the Lady Lion helm and 17th overall, Morett has led each one of her squads to the NCAA Tournament. Ranked seventh all-time in wins among Division I head coaches entering the 2000 campaign, she led this year's addition of the Lady Lion field hockey team to a 17-6 overall record and the program's 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Her 2000 Lions have garnered 21 postseason honors so far, including Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. She has coached the last three-consecutive Big Ten Players of the Year and four overall. She has also directed four Offensive Players of the Year and five Defensive Players of the Year. Twenty-six of her Lions were voted first team all-Americans, including three this season.

Morett guided her 1993 squad to Penn State's first outright Big Ten title in any sport. Since then, she has led the team to three regular season titles and an unprecedented four-consecutive tournament titles from 1995-98.

Morett is a 1979 graduate of Penn State.

The 2000 Dita/NFHCA Division I National Coach of the Year will be announced at the NFHCA Awards Luncheon on January 13, 2001 in King of Prussia, Pa.