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After a quarter century as one of the most successful coaches in her profession, Marcia Pankratz has called it a career.
Pankratz, Michigan field hockey’s coach for the past 25 years, announced her retirement, which the program shared on social media Thursday.
"I'm incredibly grateful to the University of Michigan for taking a chance on me as a young coach so many years ago," Pankratz said. "It has been a tremendous honor and a joy of a lifetime. I want to thank Peg Bradley-Doppes for hiring me and thank you to Bill Martin, Dave Brandon and, of course, Warde Manuel, for their unwavering support of me and our field hockey program.
More: Michigan athletics announces multi-year broadcast agreement with new radio partner
“To the local field hockey community and, most importantly, Jane Nixon and Nancy Cox, you all have been my rock for so many years.”
One of the winningest coaches in field hockey history, Pankratz led the Wolverines to 10 Big Ten regular-season titles, eight tournament titles and the 2001 NCAA championship when U-M defeated Maryland 2-0.
Pankratz had two separate tenures in Ann Arbor, first from 1996-2004 then again from 2009-2025 going of 371-162 (.696) in her career, which includes a 132-55 mark (.706) in the Big Ten.
After a sixth-place finish in the league in her first year, the Wolverines shared the Big Ten title in 1997 and then won five more titles through the 2024 season, never finishing lower than third in the league.
In her second stint, Michigan won three regular season championship, two conference tournament titles, a pair of final four berths and a trip to the 2021 national title game.
"Marcia is one of the most respected coaches in this country and a legend in the field hockey community," Manuel said. “She has made an indelible mark over her time at Michigan, from her leadership in securing our university's first-ever women's national championship to the impact she has had on her field hockey student-athletes from all parts of the world over the last 30 years.”
Pankratz, six-time Big Ten coach of the Year, finished her career 12th all time in career NCAA wins after leading U-M to five final fours a pair of national championship games, and the title in ‘01.
She had an All-American on her roster in 23 of 25 seasons.
"It has been an amazing journey filled with wonderful memories and meaningful relationships that I will always cherish,” Pankratz said. “Being a part of the Michigan field hockey family has been a lifelong passion, and I am profoundly grateful to have shared this experience with so many student-athletes, parents and fellow coaches over my career here. I look forward to cheering on our amazing team and forever, Go Blue!"
The Wolverines didn’t take long, or look far, naming her replacement: Kristi Gannon Fisher has been named the eighth coach in program history.
A two-time All-American, Big Ten Athlete of the Year and national champion during her playing days in Ann Arbor (2000-03), she’s been an assistant with the program for nine seasons off-and-on, most recently from 2019-24.
“Michigan Field Hockey has given me more than I could have ever imagined," she said. "This program is my family, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to serve as its head coach. It's a lifelong dream come true.”
A former member of the US national team, Gannon Fisher is top 10 in essentially every notable U-M field hockey record including goals (37) assists (26) and career points (100).
Her husband, Jim Fisher, was a 2005 Michigan graduate and three-year football letterwinner as a tight end for the football program.
They have three children: Jacob, Kaci and Karli.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Marcia Pankratz, Michigan field hockey coach, retires after 25 years
Continue reading...
Pankratz, Michigan field hockey’s coach for the past 25 years, announced her retirement, which the program shared on social media Thursday.
"I'm incredibly grateful to the University of Michigan for taking a chance on me as a young coach so many years ago," Pankratz said. "It has been a tremendous honor and a joy of a lifetime. I want to thank Peg Bradley-Doppes for hiring me and thank you to Bill Martin, Dave Brandon and, of course, Warde Manuel, for their unwavering support of me and our field hockey program.
More: Michigan athletics announces multi-year broadcast agreement with new radio partner
“To the local field hockey community and, most importantly, Jane Nixon and Nancy Cox, you all have been my rock for so many years.”
One of the winningest coaches in field hockey history, Pankratz led the Wolverines to 10 Big Ten regular-season titles, eight tournament titles and the 2001 NCAA championship when U-M defeated Maryland 2-0.
Pankratz had two separate tenures in Ann Arbor, first from 1996-2004 then again from 2009-2025 going of 371-162 (.696) in her career, which includes a 132-55 mark (.706) in the Big Ten.
After a sixth-place finish in the league in her first year, the Wolverines shared the Big Ten title in 1997 and then won five more titles through the 2024 season, never finishing lower than third in the league.
In her second stint, Michigan won three regular season championship, two conference tournament titles, a pair of final four berths and a trip to the 2021 national title game.
"Marcia is one of the most respected coaches in this country and a legend in the field hockey community," Manuel said. “She has made an indelible mark over her time at Michigan, from her leadership in securing our university's first-ever women's national championship to the impact she has had on her field hockey student-athletes from all parts of the world over the last 30 years.”
Pankratz, six-time Big Ten coach of the Year, finished her career 12th all time in career NCAA wins after leading U-M to five final fours a pair of national championship games, and the title in ‘01.
She had an All-American on her roster in 23 of 25 seasons.
"It has been an amazing journey filled with wonderful memories and meaningful relationships that I will always cherish,” Pankratz said. “Being a part of the Michigan field hockey family has been a lifelong passion, and I am profoundly grateful to have shared this experience with so many student-athletes, parents and fellow coaches over my career here. I look forward to cheering on our amazing team and forever, Go Blue!"
Michigan promotes new field hockey coach
The Wolverines didn’t take long, or look far, naming her replacement: Kristi Gannon Fisher has been named the eighth coach in program history.
A two-time All-American, Big Ten Athlete of the Year and national champion during her playing days in Ann Arbor (2000-03), she’s been an assistant with the program for nine seasons off-and-on, most recently from 2019-24.
“Michigan Field Hockey has given me more than I could have ever imagined," she said. "This program is my family, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to serve as its head coach. It's a lifelong dream come true.”
A former member of the US national team, Gannon Fisher is top 10 in essentially every notable U-M field hockey record including goals (37) assists (26) and career points (100).
Her husband, Jim Fisher, was a 2005 Michigan graduate and three-year football letterwinner as a tight end for the football program.
They have three children: Jacob, Kaci and Karli.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Marcia Pankratz, Michigan field hockey coach, retires after 25 years
Continue reading...
