NFHCA reveals Hall of Fame Class of 2025 and Lifetime Achievement Award recipients
MANAHAWKIN, NJ — The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is honored to celebrate the legends of our game with the unveiling of the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees and the distinguished recipient of the 2025 NFHCA Lifetime Achievement Award — a recognition of extraordinary impact, dedication, and legacy in the sport of field hockey.
Slated to be honored as the 26th class of the NFHCA Hall of Fame are Tracey Fuchs, Northwestern University head coach and USWNT assistant coach; Wendy Wilson, Tabb High School varsity head coach in Yorktown, VA; and Mary Werkheiser, newly retired and former longtime Norfolk Academy varsity head coach in Norfolk, VA. Angela “Chickie” Poisson – USA National Team player, collegiate and high school coach, and umpire with a career spanning more than 50 years – has been tabbed as this year’s NFHCA’s Lifetime Achievement Award honoree.
“The Hall of Fame Committee is thrilled to welcome Tracey Fuchs, Mary Werkheiser, and Wendy Wilson into the next Hall of Fame class. These extraordinary coaches have left an indelible mark on our sport through championship moments, transformational coaching, and unwavering dedication,” said NFHCA Hall of Fame Committee Chair and Fairfield University Head Coach, Laura Gebhart. “We look forward to celebrating their legacies and their continued impact on our sport.”
The honorees will be recognized on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at the NFHCA Hall of Fame Reception and Awards Dinner, the culminating event at the 2026 NFHCA Annual Convention in Lake Mary, Florida.
More About Our Honorees
Tracey Fuchs
In 2024, Tracey Fuchs guided Northwestern University to its second NCAA National Championship in just four seasons, completing a historic 23-1 campaign and an undefeated B1G regular season. This title, following Northwestern’s first-ever NCAA Championship in 2021, solidified her program as a dominant force on the national stage. Under her guidance, Northwestern has made three consecutive NCAA Championship game appearances (2022–2024), captured multiple B1G regular season and tournament titles, and established itself as one of the nation’s premier programs. Fuchs and her staff have been recognized as the NFHCA National Coaching Staff of the Year three times in four seasons (2021, 2023, 2024) and have earned B1G Coaching Staff of the Year honors three times. A true developer of talent, Fuchs has mentored and shaped more than 25 NFHCA All-Americans during her Northwestern tenure, including five First-Team All-Americans in 2024 alone. Several of her athletes, such as Maddie Zimmer and Ashley Sessa, have gone on to represent Team USA on the international stage, including 2024 Olympic team selections.
Before arriving at Northwestern, Fuchs was already making her mark on the sidelines. When she assumed her duties as an assistant coach at Michigan in 1996, the Wolverines had never reached the NCAA Tournament. That quickly changed: in 1999, Michigan qualified for the first time and advanced all the way to the national championship game, and just two years later, in 2001, Fuchs helped guide the Wolverines to their first-ever NCAA title. In total, she was part of six NCAA-qualifying teams and three Big Ten Tournament championships (1999, 2000, 2005) during her time in Ann Arbor. Fuchs also made a profound impact on the international coaching scene, serving as head coach of the U.S. Junior National Team from 2005–2009. She led the 2008 squad to a historic Pan American Junior Championship victory, defeating Argentina 2-1 in overtime—the first time the U.S. had ever claimed the title. That same year, she guided Team USA to its best-ever Junior World Cup finish (7th place) and was honored as USA Field Hockey’s National Coach of the Year (2005). A USA Field Hockey Level III Certified coach, Fuchs stands among a select few to earn the nation’s highest coaching certification.
Even before her groundbreaking coaching career, Fuchs was one of the greatest players in U.S. field hockey history. A three-time All-American at the University of Connecticut, she led the Huskies to one NCAA championship and set program scoring records that still stand. She went on to represent the U.S. National Team for 17 years, serving as captain for 14 seasons and competing in four World Cups and two Olympic Games (1988, 1996). With 268 international caps, more than any other player in U.S. history, and 69 international goals, Fuchs twice earned USA Field Hockey Athlete of the Year honors (1990, 1993). In 1994, she was named to the President’s XI, a global all-star team assembled to honor the International Hockey Federation’s 75th Anniversary. Fuchs began her coaching career as an assistant at Connecticut, bringing her unmatched playing experience to the sidelines and setting the stage for a lifetime of leadership in the sport.
Wendy Wilson
For nearly two decades, Wendy Wilson has been a cornerstone of high school field hockey in Virginia, building a tradition of excellence that has set the standard for success statewide and nationally. Over 19 years as head coach at Tabb High School in Yorktown, Virginia, Wilson has amassed a staggering career record of 403–31, achieving a .928 winning percentage and reaching her 400th career win in 2024 during the regional championship game. Wilson’s teams have consistently dominated the Virginia High School League (VHSL) stage, claiming an unprecedented 11 state championships, three state runner-up finishes, 17 consecutive state tournament appearances, 14 regional titles, and 15 district championships. Her program set a VHSL record for most consecutive wins by any team of any gender with 90 straight victories, a feat unmatched in Virginia high school sports history.
A nationally recognized leader, Wilson has been honored as NFHCA National High School Coach of the Year, NHSCA National Coach of the Year, a two-time NFHCA South Region Coach of the Year, 12-time VHSL State Coach of the Year, 14-time VHSL Region Coach of the Year, and 15-time VHSL District Coach of the Year. She was also been named MAX Field Hockey Virginia Coach of the Year. Her influence extends well beyond championship titles. Under her leadership, Tabb High School has produced multiple All-Americans, NFHCA All-Region and All-Area honorees, 13 VHSL State Players of the Year, numerous Division I collegiate scholarship athletes, and USA Field Hockey U16 national team members. Wilson has dedicated herself to nurturing the next generation of athletes through her work with the PYFHA Field Hockey Club, USAFH Nexus Program, and as founder and commissioner of the WISC Indoor Field Hockey League in Williamsburg, Virginia. She has also served as a VHSL-certified field hockey official and contributed to the growth of the game through countless clinics, camps, and local youth programs.
“I am incredibly honored to be selected to the NFHCA Hall of Fame. Throughout my career, I have modeled much of my coaching style after many of the outstanding men and women who have previously been inducted. I am sincerely privileged to be named alongside so many elite coaches that share my love of the game. I have been blessed over the years to work with an amazing group of athletes and coaches, and to be surrounded by such a supportive community at Tabb. This prestigious honor means so much to me, and I am excited to celebrate it with the NFHCA family.”
Mary Werkheiser
Over the course of 37 years of coaching field hockey, Mary Werkheiser has established herself as one of the most successful and influential high school coaches in the nation. A cornerstone of Norfolk Academy athletics for more than three decades, Werkheiser has combined competitive excellence, leadership, and tireless service to shape the future of the sport and inspire generations of athletes.
Mary’s coaching career began in 1984 as varsity head coach at The Perkiomen School in Pennsylvania, followed by one season as assistant varsity and JV head coach at Lafayette High School in Virginia before joining Norfolk Academy as a JV assistant coach from 1989 to 1994. In 1995, she took over as varsity head coach at Norfolk Academy, where she would lead the program for the next 30 years. Over her storied career, Werkheiser compiled an extraordinary career record of 515–138–14, achieving a .772 winning percentage and joining an elite group of high school coaches with over 500 career victories. Under her leadership, Norfolk Academy became a powerhouse in Virginia high school field hockey, capturing six Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) State Championships, an unparalleled 28 TCIS Conference Championships, and two League of Independent Schools titles, with consistent postseason appearances year after year. Werkheiser’s excellence on the sidelines was recognized with 14 TCIS Coach of the Year honors, and in 2005, she became the inaugural recipient of the Excellence in Coaching Award at Norfolk Academy. Her lasting contributions to the sport were further honored with her induction into the Tidewater Field Hockey Ring of Honor in 2021. Werkheiser’s influence on her players has been profound, producing six NFHCA High School All-Americans, five VISAA State Players of the Year, five Regional Players of the Year, over 50 All-State honorees, 21 All-Tidewater First Team selections including two Tidewater Players of the Year, and more than 150 TCIS All-Conference athletes. Her program has also sent over 60 athletes on to compete in NCAA field hockey, many of whom achieved success at the collegiate level thanks to her expert coaching and mentorship.
Beyond Norfolk Academy, Werkheiser has made a lasting impact on the sport statewide and nationally. She dedicated over 20 years of service to the VISAA State Field Hockey Committee, shaping opportunities and competitive standards for independent school field hockey in Virginia. As co-founder of TCOYO Field Hockey Club, she created elite training and competition pathways for countless athletes, while also mentoring young coaches and organizing grassroots clinics each year at Norfolk Academy to introduce the sport to new generations of players. Her leadership within the athletic department, contributions to the community, and advocacy for field hockey have elevated the game well beyond her own teams.
“I’m truly honored and humbled to be inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame. This sport has been such a huge part of my life—it’s where I’ve found purpose, joy, and lifelong friendships. To be recognized in this way means more than I can put into words.”
Angela “Chickie” Poisson
Angela “Chickie” Poisson’s remarkable contributions to field hockey—as a player, coach, umpire, educator, and leader—span over five decades, leaving an enduring legacy on the sport at every level. Beginning her coaching career in 1953, Poisson taught and coached field hockey at Southern Seminary in Virginia (1953–55), Sweet Briar College (1953–57), Vassar College (1957–62), and the University of Bridgeport (1962–64), while also lending her expertise to numerous camps including Sargent College June Camp, Mt. Pocono Hockey Conference Camp, Merestead Hockey and Lacrosse Camp, Tower Associate Camp, Fairchester Hockey Camp, and the Cape Cod Field Hockey and Lacrosse Camp. A former high school, collegiate, U.S. National Team player, and captain, Poisson was a standout international competitor. She was a member of the U.S. Field Hockey Team from 1955–1961, serving as captain from 1958–1961, and representing the United States on several touring teams: the 1956 Australian Tour and International Conference, the 1958 South African Tour as captain, the 1959 European Tour as vice captain, the 1962 Great Britain Tour as captain, and the 1963 International Conference in Baltimore as vice captain, in addition to reserve team selections in 1953 and 1962. Poisson’s contributions to officiating were equally groundbreaking. From 1950 to 1980, she trained and judged officials each season at state, regional, and national levels, organized and directed mini-officiating courses for high school students (1965–69), and taught officiating courses at the University of Bridgeport from 1964–1974.
She became a founding member of the Connecticut Field Hockey Association Officials Board, earned a 1979 International Umpire’s Rating, and held national umpiring ratings in five sports—basketball, field hockey, volleyball, softball, and lacrosse—through the 1960s and 1970s. She officiated every Connecticut State Tournament from 1973–1999, as well as EAIAW, AIAW, Junior College National Championships (1976–1980), sectional and national tournaments, the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival, and the 1979 Vancouver International Conference and Tournament, along with numerous foreign matches. Her leadership roles included serving as Rules Interpreter for Hudson Valley (1958–1961), becoming the first Connecticut Rules Interpreter (1973–1994), officiating coordinator for state tournaments (1974–1980), consultant to the CIAC Field Hockey Sports Committee (1973–1983), and a key member of multiple USFHA committees, including Rules, Sectional Advisory, Nominating, Allied Schools, Fundraising, Umpiring, and Technical Committees, as well as the National Federation Rules Committee in 1988 and 1989.
A sought-after educator and clinician, she spoke and led sessions for the CHSCA, FCIAC Coaches Meetings, and Olympic Umpire Development Camps across the country. A USFHA Life Member, Poisson was part of the inaugural USFHA Hall of Fame Class (1988) and is also enshrined in the University of Bridgeport Hall of Fame, New Agenda/Northeast Hall of Fame, Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame, and Trenton State College Hall of Fame, where she starred as a player. She received the USFHA National Honorary Award (1976), FCIAC Award for Improving Officiating (1980), Connecticut High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year awards (1984 and 1988), and the Connecticut Field Hockey Association Officials Board Distinguished Service Award (1995). Poisson earned her USFHA National Rating (1965) and was internationally respected as an umpire, official, and rules interpreter, working tirelessly to elevate standards of officiating in the United States.
“When I heard I was to receive the NFHCAA Lifetime Achievement Award, I was thrilled and humbled. Then, when I learned the Award would acknowledge my field fockey journey – playing, coaching and officiating – I was full of gratitude. This Award represents my dedication to field hockey for over eighty years. Thank you!”
The Awards
The NFHCA Hall of Fame was established in 1999 to honor exceptional field hockey coaches, administrators, and umpires for their success on and off the field. The Class of 2025 will be the 26th cohort to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The NFHCA Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2018 to distinguish a seasoned coach and their significant impact on our sport. With this award their courage, leadership, and strength are being recognized as well as their outstanding commitment to the sport of field hockey.
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