Congratulations to MAX Field Hockey’s 2022 High School State, Regional & National Coaches of the Year!

NEW JERSEY STATE, REGION & NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

MARK VITTESE
Camden Catholic High School
Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Vittese led the #1 team in the nation this Fall to the Non-Public State Championship, the program’s second-ever title (last was in 1985).  The Irish finished 21-1 with nationally ranked wins over PAISAA Champions #2 The Hill School (PA), Group 4 State Champions #7 Kingsway Regional, Group 2 State Champions #8 West Essex, #20 Oak Knoll School, and the Illinois State Champions, New Trier.

MASSACHUSETTS STATE & NEW ENGLAND REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

ANN SIMONS
Longmeadow High School
Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Simons ended her 42-year coaching career on top, leading the Lancers to the program’s first ever state title, defeating Nashoba Regional, 2-1, in the MIAA Division 2 state final.

CONNECTICUT STATE & NORTHEAST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

MO MINICUS
Darien High School
Darien, Connecticut

Minicus led the most dominant team in the state to a FCIAC and Class L State Championship, finishing 23-0, outscoring opponents 118-6, and registering 15 shutouts.  The Blue Wave finished ranked #21 in the nation, #2 in the Northeast Region, and claimed their 11th state title.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE & REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

JEN WEISSBACH
The Hill School
Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Weissbach led the #2 team in the nation through one of the most challenging schedules in the country to a PAISAA Championship, MAPL Championship and 20-1 finish, with their lone loss of the season to #1 Camden Catholic.

MARYLAND/DC & MID-ATLANTIC REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

SHANNON HANRATTY
Broadneck High School
Annapolis, Maryland

Hanratty led the Bruins to a dominant 20-0 season and Class 4A State Championship, finishing with a #19 National Ranking and #2 Mid-Atlantic Region Ranking, claiming wins over 3A and 2A State Champions Crofton and Glenelg.

TEXAS/OKLAHOMA & WEST/MID-WEST REGION COACH OF THE YEAR

BECKY ELLIOTT
St. John’s School
Houston, Texas

Elliott led the top team in the West/Mid-West Region and #5 team in the nation to a Southwest Prep Conference Championship and 18-2 finish, defeating #6 The Kinkaid School twice, as well as the New Jersey Group 4 State Champions and #8 ranked West Essex High School.

 

2022 STATE COACHES OF THE YEAR

CALIFORNIA

DANI HEMEON
Christopher High School
Gilroy, California

Hemeon led a young Cougar team with 4 returning starters and a brand new goalkeeper to the program’s first ever Central Coast Championship appearance, knocking off two of the top four seeds in the playoffs, including 2021 champs Los Gatos, and finishing the season 17-7-1 as section finalists.

 

COLORADO

PAUL LEWIS
Arapahoe High School
Centennial, Colorado

Lewis led the 11-4-2 Warriors to the state semifinal for the second year in a row, upsetting the #4 seed Cherry Creek in the quarterfinals and losing to eventual state champions Colorado Academy 2-3 in overtime in the semis. Lewis was our Colorado coach of the year in 2017 when he led Palmer Ridge to their first ever state championship.

DELAWARE

LOVEITTA MOFFET
Smyrna High School
Smyrna, Delaware

Moffet led the Eagles to the program’s first ever Division 1 State Championship in her second season at the helm, defeating perennial powerhouse Cape Henlopen 2-1 in overtime in a rematch of the 2021 title game.

ILLINOIS

TOM ROSENBAUM
Glenbrook South High School
Glenview, Illinois

In his 16th season, Rosenbaum led the Titans to the program’s first ever state title game (following it’s first final 4 appearance last year), finishing #14 in the West/Mid-West Region with a final record of 20-4 as the Illinois State Runner-Up.

KENTUCKY

JODY SCHAEFER
Assumption High School
Louisville, Kentucky

Schaefer led the #14 ranked team in the nation to a Kentucky State Championship, finishing one of the most challenging schedules in the country with a final record of 23-5-1 and going 8-3 against out-of-state opponents.

MAINE

SHAWNA ROBINSON
Lawrence High School
Fairfield, Maine

Robinson led the Bulldogs to the program’s first ever state championship, edging Freeport 1-0 in the final to claim the Class B state title and finish their undefeated season 18-0.

MICHIGAN

JANE NIXON
Pioneer High School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Nixon led the Pioneers to the program’s 26th state title, defeating reigning champs Skyline 2-1 in the Division 1 State Championship and finishing 14-1-1 as the #8 ranked team in the West/Mid-West Region.

MISSOURI

MERIDITH THORPE
John Burroughs School
St. Louis, Missouri

Thorpe led her alma mater Bombers to the Missouri State Championship final, finishing the season 17-4-1 and being recognized as “Others Considered” in the final West/Mid-West Rankings.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

DENNIS PELLETIER
John Stark High School
Weare. New Hampshire

Pelletier led the Generals to the program’s first ever state championship, claiming the Division 2 title with a 1-0 win over Souhegan, finishing 16-0-1 with 11 shutouts and allowing 7 goals all season.

NEW YORK

VICKIE SAX
Vestal High School
Vestal, New York

Sax led the Golden Bears to the program’s first ever New York State Championship, claiming the Class B title with a 2-1 win over Garden City and finishing the season 15-5.

NORTH CAROLINA

KELSEY MELANDO
Myers Park High School
Charlotte, North Carolina

Melando led the Mustangs to a 21-1 finish and conference and state championships in her first season as Head Coach, finishing 21-1 and winning all three games at the MAX Field Hockey High School National Invitational.

OHIO

TERRI SIMONETTI FROST
Thomas Worthington High School
Worthington, Ohio

In her 24th season, Simonetti Frost led the Cardinals to their 6th Ohio State Championship, finishing 19-2 with a final ranking of #9 in the West/Mid-West Region.  

RHODE ISLAND

LESLIE JONES
Moses Brown School
Providence, Rhode Island

Jones led the Quakers past 3x defending state champions East Greenwich to capture the Division 1 State Championship, finishing 15-1-1 with a final ranking of #18 in the Northeast Region.

VERMONT

TUCKER PIERSON
Champlain Valley Union High School
Hinesburg, Vermont

 

Pierson led the Redhawks to their first state title in 14 years, capturing the Division 1 State Championship with a 2-1 comeback overtime win over defending state champions South Burlington.

VIRGINIA

WENDY WILSON
Tabb High School
Yorktown, Virginia

Wilson led the 24-0 Tigers to their second straight State Championship and undefeated season, outscoring opponents 154-4 (18-0 in the state tournament) and extending the program’s win streak to 46 games.

WISCONSIN

CO-HEAD COACHES QUINN LOUCKS & SUSAN WALLINE
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Loucks and Walline led the Dashers to the 2022 Wisconsin State Championship with a 4-0 win over Arrowhead Union to finish the program’s first ever undefeated season at 12-0.