SELINSGROVE, PA – After 27 seasons and 195 victories, Susquehanna University field hockey coach Connie Harnum has announced her retirement.

While a nationwide search will begin immediately for her successor as head coach, Harnum will retain her duties as assistant director of athletics and assistant professor of physical education until the conclusion of the academic year in May.

Harnum steps down following her most successful season during her tenure with the Crusaders, as the team finished with a program-record 17 victories and ranked seventh in the country while earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey tournament.

Named head coach prior to the 1974 season, Harnum patrolled the sidelines for 27 of the next 29 seasons and compiled a 195-159-23 record. Her teams finished at .500 or better in 15 of her 27 seasons, including 13 of her final 19 years when her squads combined for 170 wins.

“It has been exciting to be part of a university which continued to improve in all areas during my tenure. The future definitely looks promising here at Susquehanna,” said Harnum. “It has been a real joy to have worked with so many fine people, including administrators, department staff, student-athletes and students in general.”

Beginning with the 1986 season, the Crusaders won 10 or more games seven times, including a 14-win season in 1993, a 15-win campaign in 1999 and 17 victories in 2002. Susquehanna was also nationally ranked throughout the 1999 and 2002 seasons, climbing as high as eighth in 1999 and sixth in 2002.

The Crusaders made three trips to the NCAA playoffs under Harnum, picking up their lone victory in 1999 with a 6-1 opening-round win over Gwynedd-Mercy. Susquehanna also advanced to the NCAA playoffs in 1993 and 2002, losing to Ithaca in 1993 and College of New Jersey this season.

During her career, she coached no fewer than 32 first-team All-Conference players and three All-Americans, including a pair of honorees in 2002 in second-team selection Leah Bailor and third-teamer Katie McKeever.

In addition to her field hockey success, Harnum was the school’s most successful head women’s tennis coach as she compiled a 95-51-1 (.684) record over 16 seasons from 1975-91.