Polders takes over for Polley at Villa Maria

When the field hockey season begins next summer, Villa Maria Academy will have a new head coach for the first time in more than four decades.

The Malvern school announced Monday that Maurene Polley, who led the program for 45 years, would be succeeded by veteran coach Daan Polders.

Polley took the 2013 season off as she recuperated from an undisclosed illness. Janet Coady, Polley's longtime assistant, served as acting coach.

A Villa Maria alumna, Polley took the coaching position in 1968. Her teams won 587 games, 19 Catholic Academies championships, 11 district crowns and two state titles.

Polley was inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011.

Last season, Villa Maria players wore a patch on their jerseys with the letters "MP," to honor Polley.

Polders spent the last two years as the director of field hockey at Colorado Academy, winning the state title both years. He previously was an assistant coach at Wake Forest for six years.

Polders, who also coached at USA Field hockey and Michigan State, was a Dutch international field hockey player.