Manolovich bids a fond farewell to Oberlin

Mindy Manolovich, head field hockey and women's lacrosse coach, has announced that this season will be her last at Oberlin. Manolovich, one of Oberlin's most successful coaches, will complete her current contract, which runs until June 30.

Manolovich said she has accepted a job at Western Maryland College, where she will be head field hockey and women's lacrosse coach. Manolovich has said she is leaving to be closer to her family, not out of dissatisfaction with Oberlin.

The Oberlin athletics department is sorry to see Manolovich go.

"To lose a person like her has to break your heart," Athletic Director Mike Muska said. "It is a disappointment. She is a wonderful coach."

"Mindy is a genuine loss," Clayton Koppes, dean of the college, said. "She's had great successes; both her championship teams are a tribute to her coaching abilities."

Both Koppes and Muska said they encouraged Manolovich to stay. "We made a very attractive offer but she decided to leave," Muska said.

Under Manolovich's coaching the women's lacrosse team has captured the last two NCAC conference championships. She has been the winningest coach in the history of lacrosse and field hockey at Oberlin.

Manolovich's teams will miss her as well. Senior Kim Allen has played on both the lacrosse and field hockey teams during her four years at Oberlin. She said that Manolovich had dedicated herself to her teams during her time at Oberlin. "I lived in Barrows my first year, and I remember her office light being on after nine every night I can remember," Allen said. "She works really hard for the team."

Allen said Manolovich has been an inspiring and caring coach. "Mindy is very strong and has learned through sports and life about determination and not giving up and really includes this in her coaching," Allen said, adding that Manolovich cares about her players' lives off the field as well as on it. "I can't imagine any other coach allowing players to miss practice for a mental-health day," she said.

Junior Abigail Chapman plays on the field hockey team and is one of three captains on next year's squad. "Mindy has been a great coach for a variety of reasons," she said. "Its tough having her leave, considering the majority of the team is so young," she said. Despite the loss Chapman said Manolovich has worked to make the transition run smoothly. "Mindy has been so great, going beyond what she has to do in continuing with recruiting and helping keep the hockey offseason on track.," Chapman said.

Manolovich formally announced her plans to leave Oberlin on March 15 and told her players personally. "Mindy broke the news to the lacrosse team about leaving Oberlin after practice one day and it was an emotional time for all of us, even the first-years," Allen said.

Manolovich, a dedicated recruiter, has also been telling prospective players that she will not be coaching next year. "We decided we had to be honest with them," Muska said.

Manolovich is still working to recruit top players to next year's field hockey and lacrosse squads and has offered to help her replacement in any way she can.

Koppes said a national search will be conducted to fill the vacant position. He said that the record and reputation Manolovich built up as coach will help Oberlin bring in a high-quality replacement.

Allen said whoever takes Manolovich's place will be in for a challenge. "Whoever steps in to her position this summer is stepping into a really huge pair of shoes," she said.

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