GILBERT, Ariz. — The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is honored to announce that Enza Steele, current head field hockey coach and senior woman administrator at the University of Lynchburg, will be inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame this year.
Enza Steele celebrates with her players and staff after winning the ODAC Championship.
Steele is entering her 41st season at the helm of the University of Lynchburg field hockey program. She has led the Hornets to 19 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championships and has taken her team to the NCAA tournament 20 times, advancing to the quarterfinals three times.
“The committee was so impressed with what Enza has accomplished across her outstanding career,” remarked NFHCA First Vice-President and chair of the NFHCA Awards and Hall of Fame Committee, Julie Ryan. “With over 600 career wins, she has not only built a nationally recognized program at Lynchburg, but she has been actively involved in her service to field hockey and to the NFHCA. We are excited to recognize her impact on our sport and her student-athletes over her illustrious career.”
“My life has been an incredible journey inspired by my passion for coaching field hockey,” said Steele. “I am deeply honored to be inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame.”
In 1979, Steele was tabbed to lead the field hockey program at Lynchburg and has guided it to legendary status. In her four decades on the Lynchburg sidelines, Steele has racked up an impressive 584-228-11 record. She currently ranks second in most victories among active NCAA Division III coaches and ranks fifth in victories across active coaches in all divisions. During her tenure, she has coached 24 NFHCA All-Americans and 60 All-Region honorees.
Steele with her team during a break in action.
Steele graduated from William Paterson College (now William Paterson University) in 1976 with her bachelor’s degree, then continued her education at Ithaca College where she pursued her master’s degree and served as the assistant field hockey coach. After her stint at Ithaca, Steele became the head field hockey coach at Ramsey High School in New Jersey. In her lone season at Ramsey, her team went 18-1, losing only in the New Jersey State Championship final.
Over her long career, Steele has been named the ODAC Coach of the Year an unmatched twelve times — she was also named the NFHCA South Region Coach of the Year in 2001 and the Bergen County Coach of the Year while she was at Ramsey High School.
As a member of the NFHCA and its predecessor, the Collegiate Field Hockey Coaches Association, Steele devoted her time and energy to a variety of initiatives, from serving on committees to helping organize events. She is also a member of the United States Field Hockey Association where she currently holds a Level II certification.
On top of successfully juggling head field hockey coach and senior woman administrator titles, Steele also serves as an associate professor at the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance at the University of Lynchburg.
Steele will be officially inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame at this year’s NFHCA Awards Dinner sponsored by AstroTurf. The dinner will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2020, as part of the 2020 NFHCA Annual Convention in Lake Mary, Florida. She will join Eileen Donahue in the Class of 2019 — theirs will be the 20th class to be inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame.