Hall of Fame
Melissa Falen enters the Hall of Fame as the most successful coach in Notre Dame's history, totally 287 career wins over her 25 year career patrolling the sidelines and is the third coach inducted.
Falen came to Notre Dame in 1989 to lead the field hockey and lacrosse programs and can be celebrated as one of the most successful coaches to ever roam the sidelines for Notre Dame. She has led teams to 16 conference championships on her way to totaling 287 career wins. This includes a 12-year run with the lacrosse program that saw Falen leading the team to an incredible 68 game undefeated streak in the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference, setting an NCAA record for consecutive wins in conference games.
During her tenure, Falen has led 14 players who earned their leagues Most Outstanding Player Award, with 11 of them coming from the lacrosse team. She also placed five players to All-Region First Teams and one player earning National Player of the Week honors, with three more earning Honorable Mention Status.
With Notre Dame joining the Colonial States Athletic Conference in the 2007-08 season, Falen has since placed two athletes on the First Team All-Conference Team and has steered the Gators to four postseason berths. In 2010, Falen coached the Gators first ever CSAC Rookie of the year.
Falen coached the field hockey team for 11 season and posted wins in 74% of her games, totaling 93 wins, standing as the most successful coach for the field hockey program. She also took over a lacrosse program that had seen six different head coaches in ten years prior to her arrival, and she will leave with 194 total wins.
