UConn Advance - January 22, 2008 - Field hockey coach inducted into national Hall of Fame

University of Connecticut field hockey head coach Nancy Stevens has been selected as one of five members of the 2007 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Enshrinement Class.

She was recognized at an event on Jan. 5 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

Nancy Stevens is in her 18th season as field hockey head coach at UConn.

Photo by Stephen Slade

Stevens is the second UConn field hockey head coach to be enshrined in the NFHCA Hall of Fame, following former UConn head coach Diane Wright.

Stevens, who is in her 18th season as head coach at Connecticut and her 28th season all-time, 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 currently boasts an all-time career record of 457-151-24 (.742) and has tallied 277-102-8 (.726) during her tenure at UConn.

She has guided the Huskies to nine Big East regular season titles, nine Big East Tournament titles, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, and three berths in the national semifinals (1998, 1999, 2006).

A six-time Big East Coach of the Year, Stevens is also a five-time NFHCA Mideast Coach of the Year, including the 2006 season in which she directed Connecticut to a 21-4 mark and a berth in the NCAA National Semifinals.

Stevens has developed 21 first-team All-Americans, including 12 at Connecticut. A total of four of Stevens’ players have been finalists for the Honda Broderick Award, which recognizes the national player of the year.

Field hockey head coach Nancy Stevens during a recognition event Jan. 5 at the Connecticut Convention Center.

Photo by Stephen Slade

Stevens served as a member of the U.S. Field Hockey National Coaching Staff from 1982 to 1990, and was head coach of the 1997 U.S. Under-19 National Team, which was named the “Team of the Year.”

She was head coach of the U.S. Junior National Team from 1982 to 1984, 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 a silver medal in 1985.

Before joining UConn, Stevens had a successful coaching career at Northwestern University and at Franklin and Marshall College.

A member of the U.S. National Team from 1974 to 1979, Stevens competed in the 1975 World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland.

That team was captained by former UConn coach Diane Wright.

A native of Pennsylvania, Stevens holds a bachelor’s degree in education from West Chester University and a master’s degree in sports psychology from Pennsylvania State University.

She is a longstanding member and former vice president of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

She has also served on the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Athlete’s Advisory Council and the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Membership Committee, and is a former vice president of the U.S. Field Hockey Coaches Association.