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Maria Whitehead enjoyed a high school career in field hockey and lacrosse at West Chester East that was capped off by being named the 1998 Chester County Player of the Year, and the WC East High School female athlete of the year (1999). A two sport, 4 year letter winner in both sports, Whitehead captained both teams her senior year. She was named team MVP in field hockey. In the summer of ’97, Whitehead was named to the Junior Olympics, where her team won the Gold Medal at the tournament. Maria was also nominated for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. Whitehead went on to earn an athletic scholarship to Wake Forest University where she played an integral role in leading the Demon Deacons to 3 Final Four appearances. The 2002 season capped off the school’s first NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship. Whitehead was a tri- captain that year, and finished her career at Wake with the 2nd most career assists(40). While at Wake, Maria was a 2 time All ACC Honoree, she made the All South Region 2nd team her senior year, and was an All ACC member. She also made the Dean’s list 3 of her 4 years at Wake. At the age of 22, Whitehead became the youngest head coach in Division I history when she was named head coach of St. Louis University. She remained there for 3 years, when she was forced to resign due to melanoma which spread to her brain. Upon leaving St. Louis, Maria moved to Durham, NC for further treatment to fight the spreading disease. Maria was named an Asst. Coach to Duke University’s Field Hockey team (Feb 2006) where she remained until her death in Nov. 2006. She made such an impact on so many people, that numerous events are named in her honor for melanoma research.
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