Field Hockey
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- apayne@bsu.edu
Annette Payne enters her seventh season as the head coach and her ninth overall season at Ball State in 2009. An assistant coach for the Cardinals in 2001 and 2002, Payne was elevated to the head position July 1, 2003. She is just the fifth head coach in the 35-year history of field hockey at the university.
During her tenure, Payne has coached 21 players to All-Mid-American Conference honors and five players to all-region accolades. Her teams have also been successful in the classroom, with 11 Academic All-MAC selections and 51 NFHCA National Academic Squad honorees. Payne's 2007 team matched a school record by having 12 players named to the National Academic Squad.
In 2008, freshman Brittany Hammr led the Cardinals with six goals and three assists. Senior Casey Hunsicker earned Second Team All-MAC honors for her four goals. Junior Brooke MacGillivary also joined her with Second Team honors.
Payne put together the most successful season of her young career in 2006. That year, Ball State experienced its most conference victories and best league finish since 1999. The Cardinals went 8-12 overall in 2006 but recorded a 6-4 mark in conference play. Ball State finished tied for second in the MAC and earned the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. The Cardinals advanced to the championship game but came up one goal shy of the tournament title in an overtime loss to No. 1 seed and host Ohio.
Payne coached four Cardinals to All-MAC honors in 2006, including MAC Player of the Year Lindsay Quay -- who also earned NFHCA All-West Region Second Team honors and a trip to the NFHCA Senior All-Star Game. Carla Chiampi joined Quay on the All-MAC First Team, while Lauren Cruz and Tara Reed each earned second team accolades.
Payne made her head coaching debut Aug. 30, 2003, by leading Ball State to a 4-0 victory over Radford. Under her direction, the Cardinals won eight of 20 games that season, including five versus MAC opponents -- good for a tie for fourth in the final regular season standings. Three of the wins came against teams that were nationally ranked or were receiving votes in the national poll. Those victories helped the Cardinals earn votes of their own in three national polls, including a season-best 82 points to place 21st Sept. 9.
A total of five players landed All-MAC recognition in 2003, including two -- Afton Hess and Becky Weaver -- with first team distinction. In addition, Quay, who Payne helped recruit as an assistant coach, was honored as the MAC Freshman of the Year, making her just one of four players in the storied history of the sport at BSU to garner the honor. Quay was also recognized nationally as a selection to the 2003 womensfieldhockey.com All-Rookie Squad.
After adding her first recruiting class, Payne led a young BSU squad to a 4-14 overall record and a 4-6 MAC mark in 2004, tying for fourth place in the final conference standings. Nine of the losses were heartbreaking one-goal defeats. Two of BSU's wins came in back-to-back home contests against Louisville -- the eventual MAC regular-season co-champion and tournament winner -- and Miami.
Payne guided four student-athletes to All-MAC status in 2004, including three -- Quay, Chantelle Isaac and Jen Strodel -- to first team status. Strodel was further honored as a second team all-region selection and as a participant in the North/South Senior All-Star Game.
The 2005 team compiled a 4-14 overall mark, including a 3-7 MAC ledger. Three of the losses came in overtime play, including a 3-2 thriller against Miami in MAC Tournament play. The contest was decided after two overtimes and two series of penalty strokes.
Once again, Ball State was well represented in postseason awards with a total of four players receiving All-MAC accolades. Quay and Isaac were honored with first team status, and both were also named to the NFHCA All-West Region Second Team.
Payne first came to Ball State in July of 2001 as Jen Halliday’s top assistant. The tandem helped BSU to noticeable improvements during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. The 2001 campaign was highlighted by the Cardinals advancing to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament, eventually falling to regular-season and tournament champion Ohio 1-0 in overtime.
In 2002, BSU accumulated a 9-10 overall record, despite playing a rigorous schedule, which included 13 nationally ranked teams. The Cardinals received votes in the STX/NFHCA Division I Poll six times during the 2002 campaign with a season-high 21st place ranking Oct. 8. The national rankings were the first for the program since 1999. The season was highlighted by a trio of victories over top 10 opponents, including two over No. 9 Louisville and one over No. 7 Kent State. BSU was the only league team to post a regular-season sweep of MAC co-champion Louisville.
During her tenure as assistant coach at BSU, Payne helped tutor seven players to All-MAC accolades, including three with first team distinction. Two players were honored as all-region selections, and a total of three players were selected to compete in NFHCA Senior All-Star Games during her two seasons as assistant coach. In addition, 10 players earned Academic All-MAC honors, and a total of 16 were named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll.
Payne came to BSU after spending the 2000 season as an assistant coach at Whitfield High School in St. Louis, Mo. Prior to that, Payne served as a volunteer assistant during the 1999-2000 school year at Iowa. In addition to her coaching stints, Payne has gained extensive experience coaching camps and clinics throughout the country.
A four-year letterwinner for Iowa, Payne played in 74 games from 1994 through 1997, totaling 12 goals and three assists from her midfield position. A two-year starter and the team captain in 1997, she helped the Hawkeyes to Big Ten Championships with perfect 10-0 records in both 1995 and 1996 and was part of three NCAA Tournament teams, including the 1994 squad that advanced to the final four. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Iowa in 1999.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Payne prepped at Whitfield High School, where she ended her playing career as the school’s career scoring leader. She was a two-time all-state selection and the 1992 Athlete of the Year.
