2019 High School Coaches of the Year

Congratulations to MAX Field Hockey’s 2019 High School State, Regional & National Coaches of the Year!

NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
NEW JERSEY STATE & REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

ALI GOOD
Oak Knoll School
Summit, New Jersey

Good led her alma mater and the top team in the nation to an absolutely dominating and historic performance this Fall.  The perfect 26-0 Royals outscored opponents 168-9, registered a program-record 20 shutouts, claimed their 10th straight Union County Tournament title, and captured the 2019 Tournament of Champions title with a convincing 4-1 win over defending champions and the #2 ranked team in the nation Eastern Regional.  They beat every New Jersey opponent by at least 3 goals, including two 4-1 victories over #2 ranked Eastern (the regular season victory was the first time they had ever beat Eastern in regular season play), and 6 victories over out-of-state opponents (all were at least ranked in their Regional Top 20 at the time) winning by at least 2 goals and shutting out 4 of them (vs Greenwich Academy (CT)- 3-0, vs The Hill School (PA)- 5-0, vs Hershey (PA)- 5-3, vs Sacred Heart (KY)- 6-2, vs Mamaroneck (NY)- 5-0, vs Villa Maria Academy (PA)- 5-3).

​NEW ENGLAND REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
MASSACHUSETTS STATE COACH OF THE YEAR

JANNA ANCTIL
The Rivers School
Weston, Massachusetts

Anctil led Rivers to the program’s first ever ISL title and NEPSAC B Conference title since moving up from the C Conference (they won C titles in 2014 + 2015).  The Red Wings finished the 2019 season undefeated at 18-0-1, never trailing a game, and with a final ranking of #2 in the New England Region.  In the B tournament they knocked off the 2018 champions Brooks School 3-2 in overtime in the semifinal and then Governor’s Academy 3-0 in the final to claim the title.

NORTHEAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
CONNECTICUT STATE COACH OF THE YEAR

ALEXANDRU GHEORGHE
Sacred Heart Greenwich
Greenwich, Connecticut

Gheorghe has impressively turned Sacred Heart Greenwich into an absolute field hockey powerhouse, capping off the 2019 season with the program’s first NEPSAC A title and finishing as the #1 team in Northeast Region (NY, CT, RI) and #11 in the nation.  We saw first hand at the MAX Field Hockey High School National Invitational just how talented and well coached this squad is- they knocked off Michigan State Champions Dexter 6-1 and VISAA Division 2 Champions Cape Henry Collegiate 3-0, only losing to Kentucky State Champions Assumption 0-1 in their opening game.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE & REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

GINA BUGGY
The Episcopal Academy
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Gina Buggy retires as one of the legendary coaches of the game and a true winner.  After 34 years of coaching field hockey at Episcopal Academy, Buggy’s distinguished career comes to an end with an overall record of 479-97-11 and 13 Inter-AC championships, including the final 2019 title.  On her birthday, the Churchwomen claimed the top private school crown in the nation, the PAISAA Championship.  With a 4-3 victory over an incredibly talented Hill School squad, EA secured their 2nd straight title and 4th in 6 years, finishing the 2019 season 20-1-1 as the #1 team in the state of Pennsylvania and the #4 team in the nation.  Congratulations on an incredible career Coach Buggy!

MID-ATLANTIC REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
VIRGINIA STATE COACH OF THE YEAR 

NICOLE MORGAN
Floyd E. Kellam High School
Virginia Beach, Virginia

In her first season at the helm, Morgan led Kellam to historical success.  The Knights won their first 6A Regional Championship, participated in their first ever state tournament, and advanced all the way to the VHSL Class 6 State Championship game, where they fell to a very tough Langley team.  Prior to Morgan, Kellam had never made it past the first round of the regional tournament.  The Knights finished the season 17-5 and as an “Others Considered” team in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

WEST/MID-WEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
ILLINOIS STATE COACH OF THE YEAR

STEPHANIE NYKAZA
New Trier High School
Winnetka, Illinois

Nykaza led the top team in the West/Mid-West Region and the #12 ranked team in the nation this Fall, claiming the 2019 Illinois State Championship with an overtime win over rival Lake Forest.  The Trevians finished 29-2-1 as the dominant squad in the West/Mid-West, registering wins over top squads from Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin.  They also showed they can compete with the best of the best registering an overtime victory over the Pennsylvania ranked #12 squad Academy of Notre Dame de Namur at the MAX Field Hockey High School National Invitational.

2019 STATE COACHES OF THE YEAR

CALIFORNIA

JUSTINA WILLIAMS
Archbishop Mitty High School
San Jose, California

Williams led the Monarchs to the 2019 Central Coast Championship this Fall.  It was the program’s 7th title and first outright title since 2012 (they shared the title with Los Gatos in 2017).  The 1-0 victory in the championship game handed rival and defending CCS champion Los Gatos their first loss of the season and avenged a 0-2 loss from just a couple of weeks earlier.  In her 19th season at the helm, William’s squad finished 18-2-2 and ranked #14 in the West/Mid-West Region.

COLORADO

VERONICA SCOTT
Colorado Academy
Denver, Colorado

Scott led Colorado Academy to a perfect 18-0 season and the program’s 6th Colorado State Championship, their first since 2015.  State semifinalists the past 3 seasons, the Mustangs entered the tournament as the top seed and never looked back, knocking off the defending state champs Regis Jesuit 2-1 in the final to claim the title in Scott’s 6th season at the helm.  

DELAWARE

JODIE STONE
Indian River High School
Dagsboro, Delaware

Stone led Indian River to the program’s best finish ever and first state championship final appearance.  The Indians entered the state tournament as the #2 seed and defeated the #3 seed Lake Forest 2-1 in overtime of the semifinal to move onto the state championship game where they faced the #7 team in the nation, Delmar.   They ended up losing to the defending champs 3-6, but put in a great effort as Delmar had only previously given up 6 goals all season, and only ever 1 goal in a game.  

KENTUCKY

JODY SCHAEFER
Assumption High School
Louisville, Kentucky

Schaefer guided a young team with a lot of talent to the 2019 Kentucky State Championship.  The Rockets knocked off the top two teams in the state to claim their 11th title and potentially the final KHSAA state title.  An overtime shootout win over W/MW #3 defending state champs Sacred Heart Academy secured them a spot in the final where they faced and beat W/MW #8 Christian Academy of Louisville 3-2 to bring home the title.  Schaefer’s strength of schedule, traveling to the MAX Field Hockey High School National Invitational in Pennsylvania and Virginia Beach to face off against some of the top teams in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic Region pushed her squad to come together and perform at the highest level when it mattered most.

MAINE

PAULA DOUGHTY
Skowhegan Area High School
Skowhegan, Maine

Doughty added to the dynasty she has built at Skowhegan claiming the program’s 16th Class A State Championship this Fall.  The Indians avenged last year’s state championship loss to Biddeford, defeating the unbeaten Tigers 3-0 in the Class A final, a game that was scoreless at the half.  Doughty’s squad was dominant through the post-season, outscoring playoff opponents 29-1, finishing the 2019 season as the top squad in the state and the #3 ranked team in the New England Region.

MARYLAND

ALICE PUCKETT
John Carroll School
Bel Air, Maryland

MICHIGAN

TRISH MACHEMER
Dexter High School
Dexter, Michigan

Machemer led Dexter to the 2019 Division I State Championship and the program’s first title since 2014 when they won the Division 2 title.  The Dreadnaughts put together an impressive 2019 season, finishing 19-2-2, as the top squad in Michigan and the #5 ranked team in the West/Mid-West Region.  Losing to a tough Pioneer team just two weeks earlier, Dexter rebounded and had a strong playoff run, outscoring opponents 9-0 en route to the championship where they would beat Pioneer 3-0.  The squads only other loss was to Sacred Heart Greenwich of Connecticut, the #11 ranked team in the nation, at the MAX Field Hockey High School National Invitational, where they also registered a nationally ranked win 1-0 over the eventual New York State Class B State Champions Lakeland.

MISSOURI

LYNN MITTLER
MICDS
Saint Louis, Missouri

Mittler led MICDS through a season full of adversity and injuries and pulled it all together to win the Midwest Tournament Championship.  After losing some key games in September, the Rams went on a 9-0 run in October working their way back to the MidWest Tournament Final for a rematch against Villa Duchesne, who they had lost the championship to the previous two years. With a 1-0 victory over Villa Duchesne in the final, Mittler’s squad claimed their 6th championship, finishing 17-3-1 and claiming the #9 ranking in the West/Mid-West Region.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

KELLY OWEN
Bishop Brady High School
Concord, New Hampshire

Owen led Bishop Brady to the first state championship in program history this Fall.  The Giants claimed the NHIAA Division III State Championship with a 1-0 win over defending champions Mascoma, who were making their third straight championship appearance.  Not only was it Bishop Brady’s first championship ever, it was the first time in Owen’s 26 year career they had even made it to the semifinal round of playoffs.  The Giants finished their historical season with a final record of 18-2.

NEW YORK

SUKHI SANDHU
Horace Greeley High School
Chappaqua, New York

Sandhu led Horace Greeley to a historic season in 2019.  The Quakers won their first Section I title since 1984, defeating defending champion and powerhouse Mamaroneck 1-0 in the sectional final, earning a spot in the New York Class A State tournament.  They then went on to defeat Kingston 2-1 in the Regional Finals to advance to the program’s first ever Final 4 where they would defeat Penfield 2-1 in the state semifinal.  Sandhu’s squad couldn’t get past defending state champions Maine-Endwell as they fell 2-1 in the state final, finishing their cinderella season just short with a final record of 18-1-4 and a final ranking in the Northeast Region of #7.

NORTH CAROLINA

SHEILA BAKER
Charlotte Catholic High School
Charlotte, North Carolina

Baker led her alma mater to the NCFHA State Championship in 2019.  The Cougars entered the state tournament as the #5 seed and knocked off the #1 seed East Chapel Hill 5-1 in the semifinal and then defeated the 3x defending state champions and #1 seed Myers Park in the final 1-0, capitalizing on their only corner of the game.  Baker’s squad finished the championship season 16-2 with a final ranking of #20 in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

OHIO

MARISSA WELDON
New Albany High School
New Albany, Ohio

Weldon led New Albany to it’s first ever state district championship game this Fall.  The newer program that began in 2012 had reached the district semifinal three times before but never advanced further beyond that stage.  In that district championship game the Eagles lost 3-0 to Columbus Academy, the top team in the state and eventual state champions, a great improvement from their 10-0 loss to them the year before.

RHODE ISLAND

DEB MCMULLEN
East Greenwich High School
East Greenwich, Rhode Island

Just days after being inducted into the Rhode Island Interscholastic Hall of Fame, McMullen led East Greenwich to their first Division I State Championship since 2010 and the program’s 6th title.  Defeating North Kingstown in the state final 2-1, the Avengers finished the season 14-1-2 with their only loss of the season being to North Kingstown during the regular season.

TEXAS/OKLAHOMA

CRAIG CHAMBERS
St. John’s School
Houston, Texas

In his final season at the helm, Chambers led St. John’s to the 2019 SPC Championship, an 18-2 finish, and a final ranking of #7 in the West/Mid-West Region.  The squads lone losses were in Pennsylvania at the MAX Field Hockey High School National Invitational to the #9 team in the nation, The Hill School (PA), and the #3 team in the Northeast Region, Greenwich Academy (CT).  The 2019 title was the 7th SPC Championship the Mavericks captured under his 14 years of leadership and the second in a row.  Chambers goes out on top with an overall record of 278-44-33.

VERMONT

KELLY MCCLINTOCK
Rice Memorial High School
South Burlington, Vermont

McClintock led Rice to the program’s first ever Division I State Championship game and title this Fall.  The Green Knights captured 4 titles at the Division 2 and 3 levels since 2008, but had not advanced past the Division I semifinal since they moved up 5 seasons ago.  The squad’s dominating 4-0 performance against the defending state champions Bellows Falls in the championship game also avenged last year’s semifinal loss that knocked them out of the state tournament.  McClintock secured her 100th coaching win this Fall and her squad finished the season 12-4-1.

WISCONSIN

QUINN LOUCKS & SUSAN WALLINE
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Co-Head Coaches Loucks and Walline led DSHA to the 2019 Wisconsin State Championship, the program’s first title in it’s 16 year history.  The Dashers entered the tournament as the #4 seed and upset the #1 seed and 3-time defending champions Brookfield Academy 1-0 in the semifinal.  They had previously lost to Brookfield three times during the regular season by a combined score of 7-0.  In an overtime shootout, the Dashers defeated the #2 seed Arrowhead Union in the championship game to claim their first ever title.