UConn Field Hockey Coach Nancy Stevens Enshrined In NFHCA Hall of Fame
NFHCA Convention Taking Place Hartford, Conn.

HARTFORD, Conn. (January 5, 2008) - University of Connecticut field hockey head coach Nancy Stevens was inducted as one of five members into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Enshrinement Class on Saturday at the group's annual convention, which is being held in Hartford.

Stevens is presented her Hall of Fame Award from NFHCA President Amy Fowler.

Joining Stevens in this class is North Carolina head coach Karen Shelton, Messiah College head coach Janice Trapp, Greenwich (Conn.) Academy varsity head coach Angela Tammaro and Shore Regional (N.J.) High School varsity head coach Nancy Williams.

The selection marks the second time that a University of Connecticut field hockey head coach has been enshrined in the NFHCA Hall of Fame, as Stevens joins former UConn head coach Diane Wright.

A number of former UConn players were on hand for the ceremony.

Stevens recently completed her 18th season as the head coach at Connecticut and her 28th season all-time. She entered the 2007 campaign ranked second all-time among NCAA Division I coaches in wins and first in total games coached.

Stevens became the fourth coach in NCAA field hockey history to reach the 400-win plateau during the 2004 season.

She has guided the Huskies to 10 BIG EAST Regular season titles, 10 BIG EAST Tournament titles, 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and four berths in the national semifinals (1998, 1999, 2006 and 2007).

Internationally, Stevens served as a member of the U.S. Field Hockey National Coaching Staff from 1982-1900, she was the head coach of the 1997 U.S. U-19 National Team, which was named the “Team of the Year” by U.S. Field Hockey.

She was head coach of the U.S. Junior National Team from 1982-84, while coaching in the U.S. Olympic Developmental Program. Stevens has been a U.S. Olympic Festival head coach five times since 1985, leading her team to a gold medal in 1986 and to a silver medal in 1985.

Stevens and current Wake Forest coach Jen Averill, who played for Stevens at Northwestern.

Prior to Connecticut, Stevens had two previous head coaching stops at Franklin & Marshall (1979-1980) and Northwestern (1981-1989).

Before taking over at Connecticut, Stevens served as the head coach at Northwestern University for nine years. She led the Wildcats to eight consecutive NCAA Division I Championship quarterfinal appearances (1982-89), three NCAA semifinal games (1983, 1985 and 1989) and four Big Ten Championships (1983, 1984, 1985 and 1988).

During her final season in 1989, Stevens directed her Wildcat field hockey team to an 18-4-1 record and a third-place finish in the NCAA Championship. Her 1985 team also finished third at the NCAA Championship.

In her nine-year career at Northwestern, Stevens’ teams had an overall record of 152-35-12, for an impressive .764 winning percentage. Her student-athletes also maintained a perfect 100 percent graduation rate while at NU.

Prior to coaching at Northwestern, Stevens was head field hockey and lacrosse coach at Franklin and Marshall College for two seasons. Her 1979 F&M team placed second at the AIAW National Championship, while her 1980 team reached the quarterfinals.

A member of the U.S. National Team from 1974-79, Stevens competed in the 1975 World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland. That team was captained by former UConn coach Diane Wright.

Originally from Lancaster, Pa., Stevens received her bachelor’s degree in education, summa cum laude from West Chester University in 1976. She captained the 1975 field hockey team at West Chester that won the AIAW National Championship. She was a 2003 inductee into the West Chester University Hall of Fame.

In 1979, she received her master’s degree in sports psychology from Penn State. There, she also served as assistant field hockey and lacrosse coach from 1977-79, with the lacrosse squads winning AIAW National Championship titles in 1978 and 1979.

Stevens holds annual summer camps at UConn and is a longstanding member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).

Stevens has also served on the U.S. Olympic Committee's Athlete's Advisory Council and the U.S. Olympic Committee's Membership Committee. In addition, Coach Stevens has held the positions of Vice President in the U.S. Field Hockey Coaches Association and was a former Vice President of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.