VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova field hockey coach Joanie Milhous has seen it all on the Main Line. One thing remains consistent: the family atmosphere. As she embarks on another season at the helm, she is extremely focused on that family.
"I try to balance being a mom, wife and a coach," said Milhous. "My family has 100 percent impacted who I am as a person and a coach. They give me the best perspective I can ask for."
Growing up as the youngest of seven children, Milhous developed a sense of pride in her family. She exemplifies her family pride in her coaching tactics. The program she constructed is based on three core values: passion, growth and accountability, striving to uphold Villanova's core values of Caritas, Unitas and Veritas. The goal is to become a better person on and off the field.
"I definitely preach that we are a family," Milhous reflected. "In good times and bad, whether they are current players or past players, I am always there for them. They are completely family and always will be."
Milhous has received many milestones as the Wildcats head coach, notably a two-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2005. Her biggest milestone is soon to come as she sits six wins away from 250 career wins, something that has never been done in Villanova's field hockey history.
Beginning her coaching career in 1991 at nearby Cabrini College, Milhous turned the program around quickly. Her first season the team finished with one win and three years later 11 wins. When she took the job at Villanova the following season, she knew she had found a home.
"There is a huge sense of pride, tradition and community that is like no other. When I was first coaching at other schools, I knew I always wanted to be a part of Villanova."
She posted a 19-41 record in her first three seasons at Villanova, followed by a 12-year stretch of winning seasons including seven trips to the BIG EAST tournament. The 2005 season was the most accomplished of Milhous' career when she earned BIG EAST coach of the year honors while leading the Wildcats to a 15-5 record and the first regular season title in school history. But that is not what is most important to Milhous. When she reflects on her career, she praises her players.
"My career at Villanova has been extremely fulfilling with all the wonderful young ladies I have been fortunate to coach. To watch them develop from a young freshman to a graduate and then onto successful careers is a joy," Milhous said. "I take great pride in the way my teams have competed over the years and how they exemplify the epitome of a Villanova student-athlete. The Villanova V is something that means so much to me and I wear it with humble pride."
Graduate student Hannah Barsky is one of those athletes Milhous has seen develop from that young freshman to graduate.
"Joanie has worked so hard to change the culture of our team into being a family and taking the weight off each other's shoulders," said Barsky. "Joanie created what the Villanova field hockey family is today. She pushed each and every one of us to be the best version of ourselves."
Now in 2023, Milhous is as excited as ever to begin a new season.
"We have something very special right now. I am super excited about our current culture and the type of student-athlete we are attracting to our program."
The Wildcats return 18 players after an 11-6 finish a season ago. Promising freshman Maeve Boston will have a big role on an experienced team. Senior captains Meghan Mitchell and Sabine de Ruijter are three-time ALL-BIG EAST selections, and they are joined by other veteran leaders like Barsky and fellow graduate student Shannon Drakeley to form one big happy family for Milhous.
Villanova opens the season Friday, August 25th at home against Ball State at the Conshohocken Proving Grounds.
