Sue Caples is in her her third decade as headcoach of Crimson field hockey in 2011. In her previous 23 seasonsat Harvard, she has led the Crimson to four NCAA tournament berths,three Ivy League titles and six ECAC tournament appearances.
Under Caples' guidance, the Crimson has produced 10 All-Americaselections, four Ivy League Players of the Year, three Ivy Rookiesof the Year, 46 all-region selections and 39 picks to the All-IvyLeague first team. Caples has guided at least one player toall-region status and at least one to the All-Ivy first teamin 21 of her first 23 seasons. She owns a 189-193-9career record.
Caples has worked with the U.S. National Program for more than23 years. In 2008, she was invited to earn the USA Field HockeyLevel III Coaching accreditation, which is the highest coachinglevel that can be obtained.
In 2004, Harvard claimed the third Ivy League title in programhistory with an 11-7 final record and 6-1 Ivy mark. The Crimsonearned the league's automatic berth into the NCAA tournament beforebowing to eventual NCAA champion Wake Forest in the first round.Harvard's push for an NCAA bid in 2003 fell just short as theCrimson finished the season with a 12-5 record, including a 5-2mark in the Ivy League.
Harvard won six of its first seven games in 2002 en route to a12-6 final mark and an at-large berth into the NCAA tournament.Jordan Field hosted the first and second round of the tournament,the Crimson dropped a 4-3 first round decision against eventualNCAA semifinalist Michigan State. Caples also led Harvard to NCAAberths in 1991 and 2000.
Caples served as Harvard's assistant coach from 1985 until herappointment as head coach in 1988. She was formerly an assistantfield hockey and lacrosse coach at West Chester and head lacrossecoach at Swarthmore. In addition, Caples has been a member of thecoaching staffs of the United States National Team, the 1994 and1995 United States Olympic Festivals and the U.S. Under-18 andUnder-21 Teams and A-Camp.
A 2008 graduate of the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy and 2010graduated of the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy Dimension 2, Caplescurrently serves on the NCAA Regional Selection Committee.
A field hockey and lacrosse standout at Massachusetts, Caplesserved as the field hockey captain as a senior and earnedAll-America status. She competed in three Olympic Festivals, andwas a member of the U.S. Select Team from 1980-85, the U.S. OlympicTraining squad from 1981-84, the 1981 Under-21 National Team andthe 1982 U.S. National Team.
