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Char Morett-Curtiss, Architect of Penn State Field Hockey, Retires

The legendary Penn State player and coach built a rich field hockey legacy in Happy Valley.

Mark Wogenrich

Char Morett-Curtiss, who built Penn State field hockey into a national power over 36 years as head coach, announced her retirement Wednesday, punctuating a career that included eight Big Ten titles and 30 NCAA tournament appearances.

After leading the Lions to a share of the Big Ten regular-season title and the NCAA Final Four last season, Morett-Curtiss said the time was right for her to retire. She will remain with the athletic department as an advisor.

"The program is in great shape, coming off the Final Four and a Big Ten championship, with an experienced staff of Penn Staters, a new stadium on the horizon and an athletic director in Pat Kraft who shares my vision for the program's future," Morett-Curtiss said in a statement.

Morett-Curtiss, who played field hockey at Penn State from 1975-79, leaves quite a legacy. Among her accomplishments:

  • A 575-239-16 career record as a head coach, winning 541 games at Penn State
  • Six NCAA Final Fours and two championship-game appearances among her 30 tournament trips
  • Eight Big Ten regular-season titles and two Atlantic 10 championships
  • Six Big Ten tournament titles
  • Seven Big Ten coach-of-the-year awards
  • 43 NFHCA first-team All-Americans and 79 first-team All-Big Ten honorees
  • Six Big Ten players of the year
  • 343 Academic All-Big Ten players

"Char is a Penn State legend," Kraft said in a statement. "She has been the keystone of the Penn State field hockey program from the time she was a student-athlete through an amazing nearly 40-year career as a coach. Her passion for Penn State, Happy Valley, women's athletics and field hockey, in particular, has shown through in everything she does.

"She has been a mentor for so many young women, not only making them better field hockey players but preparing them for life after field hockey. She bleeds Blue & White, and while we will miss her on the sidelines, we are excited to have her continue to share her love for Penn State Athletics in her new advisory role."

Morett-Curtiss arrived at Penn State as a student-athlete in 1975 and was a two-time All-American. She played internationally after graduating, competing on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team that won bronze.

Morett-Curtiss began her coaching career as an assistant at Old Dominion in 1980 and became Boston College's head coach in 1984. After three seasons there, Morett-Curtiss returned to her alma mater to become head coach in 1987.

"I hope I will be remembered as a coach who cared, who inspired my players and all Penn Staters, and who had a great deal of fun along the way, from singing on the bus, dancing in the locker room, and cheering in Beaver Stadium," she said. "It all began with Gillian Rattray, who believed in me as a high school recruit, then as a college athlete in two sports and then as a coach. Fellow coaches like Joe Paterno and Russ Rose lifted and helped guide me.

"... I love Penn State and will always be grateful to so many people that have touched my life in Happy Valley."

Morett-Curtiss wrote a letter to the Penn State community, in which she discusses her dream of a new field hockey stadium. In October, Penn State broke ground on a $12.8 million renovation plan for the complex.

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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.

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Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is Editor and Publisher of AllPennState, the site for Penn State news on SI's FanNation Network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs and three Rose Bowls.

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