SPRINGFIELD - Dawn Callahan has announced her resignation as the head coach of Missouri State field hockey citing personal reasons, ending a 14-year affiliation with the university.
Callahan came to MSU as an assistant coach in 1997 and served one year before becoming the fifth head coach in school history when she took over the position from Kathy DeAngelis in 1998. She leaves with the second-most wins in the program's history and an 87-157 career record.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my 14 years at Missouri State University," Callahan said. "I would like to thank my current and former players for all the great memories. I am grateful for all the support from the community, staff and others at Missouri State. I would like to thank the administration for giving me the opportunity to coach at this great university. I will miss Missouri State and I hope for the best for the program's future. Missouri State and Springfield will always hold a special place in my heart, and I have had the pleasure of working with many wonderful people over the years."
Director of Athletics Kyle Moats expressed his appreciation for her service to the university and for representing Missouri State with class and distinction.
"We are very grateful for Dawn's leadership and the time she committed to our program," Moats said. "We respect her decision to spend more time with her family and we will miss her positive attitude and the way in which she led the field hockey program."
During her time at Missouri State, Callahan not only earned a master's degree in education, but also married her husband, Tim. Their two sons, James, 2, and Ty, 6 months, were born in Springfield.
Callahan was honored as the NorPac Coach of the Year in 2000 as the Bears finished second in regular season NorPac Conference play with a record of 5-1 and were 10-12 overall. A year later, Callahan led the Bears to a NorPac Eastern Division title as Missouri State swept through the regular season with a 6-0 league mark. The Bears' 11-8 record was its best since 1994, despite a schedule that featured six ranked opponents.
After another second-place conference finish in 2002 and a fourth-place showing in 2003, Callahan and company finished the Bears' NorPac run with an 11-win season and a third-place finish. In seven years in the NorPac, Callahan posted double-digit wins in four seasons and 61 overall wins.
Callahan ushered in a new era in 2005 when she played an integral role in transitioning the Bears into the competitive Mid-American Conference. The move brought the Bears closer to home and into a tough and respected conference. The new scenery brought new challenges and new faces in Ball State, Central Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio) and Ohio University,
Since taking over the team in the 1998 season, Callahan has coached several highly-decorated players, including current assistant coach Gabby Gomez Sosa. Gomez Sosa was named NFHCA All-West Region from 2002-2004 and to the NorPac All-Conference team all four of her seasons played, including a Rookie of the Year Award in 2001 and NFHCA All-America third team in 2004.
Callahan also coached three-time national statistical leader goalkeeper Kim Kinsella from 2004 to 2008. Kinsella led the nation in saves per game and saves percentage. She was named to three all-MAC and academic all-MAC teams in four seasons.
In all, Callahan has coached seven NFHCA All-Region honorees, three conference rookies of the year, two conference defensive players of the year and one conference player of the year. She has had 36 athletes named to all-conference teams. Her players consistently produced off the field as well. Eleven have been named to conference all-academic teams and 69 have been NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad members. The 2008 and 2009 teams were NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad recipients for achieving a team grade point average above 3.0.
Callahan graduated from the University of Maine in 1997 where she was a four-year starter for the Black Bears' field hockey team and also competed in ice hockey. As a junior and senior, Callahan was elected field hockey team captain by her teammates and led the squad in defensive saves during each of her four seasons.
She was selected to participate in the NCAA Division I All-Star Game as a senior in 1996 and was chosen to the American East All-Tournament Team that same year.
Callahan leaves the Bears with plenty of returning talent. Nine of 11 starters and 89 percent of the team's scoring from the 2010 campaign are expected to return next season.
The resignation will become effective January 4, 2011.
