“This is an extremely well-deserved honor,” Miami University President Gregory Crawford stated. “Coach Puzo has continually raised the bar for excellence through numerous MAC championships, Coach of the Year honors, All-MAC honorees, and the program’s first Elite Eight appearance this season. We are proud of the standard Coach Puzo, the coaching staff, and the players have set for Miami University field hockey and grateful for Coach Puzo’s hard work and dedication.”
Puzo and the RedHawks captured their 17th straight MAC Championship (9 common season, eight event titles) en path to 16 victories, the fifth-highest win complete in the nation this previous season. The 2025 MAC Coach of the Year helped propel the RedHawks immediately into the Sweet 16 for the first time at school historical past and added a 2-1 win at No. 4 Virginia to advance to the Elite Eight, additionally a primary in program historical past.
The RedHawks led the nation in scoring with 251 factors and have been one of two groups this season to publish 80 objectives and 80 assists, all whereas competing in opposition to the nation’s 14th-toughest schedule. Overall, Miami led the nation in objectives per recreation, assists per recreation and factors per recreation. The RedHawks completed second in scoring margin and fifth in penalty corners per recreation.
“Iñako, above anything else, believes,” stated Kylie Coughlin, a junior on the subject hockey group. “He believes in the 26 Miami field hockey players more than anyone else in this field hockey community. He leads us as the champions that he believes that we are, and that belief is what drives our success. The culture that he has created is a family, and he treats us as such. A family where each person is free to be uniquely themselves. He knows each of our individual personalities well enough to know exactly when to encourage us, challenge us, keep us humble, or sing our praises. He is a unique leader who has built a unique family, one that generations of women, including myself, are incredibly proud to be part of.”
Miami completed 2025 ranked 10th in RPI, a 15-spot improve from 2024.
Puzo is 187-129 in 15 years as head coach of the subject hockey group and has earned six MAC Coach of the Year awards. He has produced 77 All-MAC performers, 10 MAC Player of the Year award winners, six MAC Freshman of the Year honorees and one MAC Defensive Player of the Year.