NFHCA announces 2021 NFHCA Division III Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year

Dec 7, 2021 | 2021-2022, Division III, News

2021 NFHCA Division III Regional Coaching Staff of the Year

BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Six Division III coaching staffs have been recognized as their region’s 2021 NFHCA Coaching Staff of the Year. Each honoree was selected by a majority vote of their regional collegeaues.

Region I

Babson College

Julie Ryan, Lindsey O’Coin, Summer Washburn
  • Ryan named New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Coach (NEWMAC) of the Year
  • NEWMAC regular-season and tournament champions, going undefeated in conference play
  • Advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals
  • This is Babson’s fourth Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award and the third for staffs led by Ryan

Region II

Middlebury College

Katharine DeLorenzo, Lauren McNally, Andrea Way
  • DeLorenzo named New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Coach of the Year
  • NESCAC regular-season and tournament champions
  • Undefeated season led to Middlebury’s fourth-consecutive NCAA Division III Championship
  • This is Middlebury’s fifth Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award

Region III

SUNY New Paltz

Shanna Szablinski, Rachel Beam, Sara Knickerbocker, Sarah Swift
  • Named State College of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Coaching Staff of the Year
  • SUNYAC regular-season and tournament champions, touting an undefeated conference record
  • Advanced to NCAA Second Round
  • This is New Paltz’s first Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award

Region IV

Rowan University

Michelle Andre, Danielle Altersitz, Erin Small
  • Andre named New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Coach of the Year
  • NJAC regular-season and tournament champions, touting an undefeated conference record
  • Advanced to NCAA Final Four
  • This is Rowan’s second Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award

Region V

Johns Hopkins University

Jane Wells, James Albanese, Merritt Davis, Bill Pullin
  • Wells named Centennial Conference Coach of the Year
  • Centennial Conference regular-season and tournament champions, touting an undefeated conference record
  • Advanced to NCAA Championship game
  • This is Hopkins’ second Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award

Region VI

Washington and Lee University

Gina Wills
  • Wills named Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Coach of the Year
  • ODAC regular-season and tournament champions, touting an undefeated conference record
  • Advanced to NCAA Elite Eight
  • This is W&L’s first Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award

While the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) officially recognizes each institution’s field hockey coaches, the association acknowledges the important work of all staff members who contribute to a program’s success.

The 2021 NFHCA Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year will be announced on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at the NFHCA Awards Dinner sponsored by AstroTurf® at the 2022 NFHCA Annual Convention.

Region IV photo credit: Nick Feldman

Region V photo credit: Johns Hopkins Athletics

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.