Hannah Hook enters her fourth season with the Denver staff in 2018-19.
Former University of Denver women’s lacrosse goalkeeper Hook (Denver ’15) was named the program’s assistant coach prior to the start of the 2016 season.
Overseeing the goalkeeping group, Hook helped guide goalkeepers Carson Gregg, Amelia Cole, Katy Miele and Emilie Arrix in 2018, with Gregg earning the starting job. Gregg quickly found success in net in her first year as the Pioneer starter, recording double-digit saves in eight of the 19 games she started, including in six games versus ranked opponents and four of the last six games. The sophomore had a career-high 16 saves in her first career start against then-No. 23 Stanford, holding the Cardinal the final 18:50 of the contest without a goal and 0-for-11 on free-position attempts. She finished the season with 152 saves, which rank eighth all-time for saves in a single season in program history. Gregg was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week a league-high three times during the season. She also finished the season nationally ranked in goals-against-average, save percentage, saves and saves per game.
The goalkeepers held opponents to 10.15 goals a game, including three instances in which the Pioneers held their opponents to five goals or less. The season low came against Bulter on March 31, when Denver allowed just one goal, in which Gregg, Cole and Miele made appearances.
In her second season on the sidelines, the Pioneers finished with a 14-4 record in its first year in the BIG EAST and fell to [2/3] Florida in the championship game. Senior Goalkeeper Maddy Stevenson started every game in the crease for DU and ended her career on the All-BIG EAST second team under the guidance of Hook. Stevenson led the BIG EAST Conference in goals-against average at 8.65, and was eighth in the nation.
In her first season as a coach for the Pioneers, Denver finished with a 9-9 record and a trip to the MPSF Semifinals. Goalkeeper Maddy Stevenson was named to the MPSF All-Tournament Team for her performance in the postseason.
“Hannah has been a program-changer for us on the field, and I have no doubt that she will continue down that path as a coach,” Kelly said. “Hannah is passionate about Denver Lacrosse and understands what it takes to lead a team on and off the field. She will be a fantastic addition to our staff.”
As the assistant coach, Hook will be primarily responsible for the defense and goalies. In addition to her role on the field, Hook will organize team travel, community service and fundraising.
Hook ranks first in DU history with an 8.68 career goals against average, with the second-, third- and fourth-best single-season goals against averages in school history with 8.27 in 2014, 8.80 in 2015 and 8.89 in 2013. The two-time Tewaaraton watch list candidate earned 50 goalkeeper wins in 63 games played, recording a career save percentage of .494 (second in school history) and 487 saves (fourth in school history).
The Arnold, Md., native also holds two Denver top-five performances in single-season save percentage and saves. She ranked fifth in the country with a .514 save percentage in 2013 and ranked third with a .510 save percentage in 2014 and made the most saves in the country in 2013 (190) and 171 saves in 2014, the fifth most in the country.
In 2013, Hook was named to the All-MPSF First and Tournament teams as well as the IWLCA All-Region Second Team. As the goalie in 2014, Hook once again anchored the Denver defense in all 21 games, leading the Pioneers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. In her senior season, the four-time MPSF Defensive Player of the Week recorded a career-high 45 ground balls in 16 games before injury prevented her from playing in the final two games of the season.
Hook is in her second year of grad school at Denver.
