Feb. 20, 2003

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Jackie Pereira and Cindy Werley have joined the North Carolina field hockey program as assistant coaches, head coach Karen Shelton announced Thursday The two join Jana Withrow, in her fifth year as a Carolina assistant, to round out the Tar Heel staff. "I'm thrilled to have added Jackie and Cindy to our staff," Shelton said. "Jackie has tremendous international experience and is one of the greatest players in field hockey history. Cindy is the most outstanding player in UNC history and we're very excited to have her back in Chapel Hill. I think that the skills and strengths of both women will have a great impact on the Carolina program."

Jackie Pereira

Pereira, a native of Australia, represented her country in the Olympics three times., winning gold in 1988 and '96. She was a member of the Australian National Team from 1986-96 and scored 109 goals in 175 international games, becoming the first Australian woman to register 100 career goals. She was inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame in 1998 and has received the Order of Australian Medal, given by the Queen of England, for her services to field hockey. In 1988 and '89 she was named to the World Eleven Team, recognizing her as one of the 11-best players in the world.

She served as an assistant coach at William & Mary last season.

Werley, who played for the Tar Heels

Cindy Werley

from 1993-94 and 1996-97, is the program's most decorated player. She earned the Honda Award as national player of the year in both her junior and senior seasons, when she also was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. A three-time All-America selection, she was a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team. She led UNC to NCAA Championships in 1996 and '97 and to ACC titles in all four of her seasons. Werley still holds the Carolina records for career goals (84) and points (212) and the single-season records for goals (36 in 1997) and points (87 in 1997). Carolina jersey No. 13 has been retired at UNC in her honor.

Werley has spent the past four years as an assistant coach at Duke. Prior to that, she coached at Louisville for one season. She will serve at UNC in a volunteer capacity.