December 6, 2024 — United States Coach of the Year, the nominees

The United States Coach of the Year Award is given to a head coach or co-head coaches who made a noticeable difference in the performance of a scholastic field hockey team in a particular season. The coaching performance is not limited to progress made in the year which the award is given.

Here are this year’s 12 nominees:

• Katherine Bowie, Pottstown Hill School (Pa.) — In her first year on the job, she was able to meld her own coaching systems with the immense talent of the team, and had an undefeated season during which the Rams raised their level of play in key moments
• Wendy Byers, Elliottsburg West Perry (Pa.) — Helped get the team into its first state final, all the while coaching her daughter Jordan, the team’s leading scorer
• Paula Conway, La Jolla Bishop’s School (Calif.) — Guided Bishop’s to its first CIF San Diego Section Open title, defeating a cross-town rival she previously coached
• Carey Fetting-Smith, Baltimore Bryn Mawr (Md.) — One of the school’s all-time greats came back to her alma mater and, in her first season at the helm, won the IAAM Flight “A” championship in dramatic fashion
• Leslie Fry, Chelsea (Mich.) — One of the originators of the Washtenau Whippets club side which participated alongside the public schools at the time, she helped bring the Chelsea program into varsity status and won its first state title in 2024
• Jodi Hollamon, Delmar (Del.) — Shepherded a team led by her daughter Jordyn to a ninth straight state championship, finishing off a patch of enormous success while her two daughters and two nieces were on the roster
• Michelle Kasold, Cary (N.C.) Christian — The former U.S. women’s national team player took the Knights on an unforgettable run to an NCISAA championship
• Regan Marscher, Tredyffrin Conestoga (Pa.) — Brought the Pioneers to only its second PIAA state final, and won the title match in overtime
• Kelly Rosborough, Uxbridge (Mass.) — Got through its Division 4 bracket and won its fourth straight MIAA title, one of the most under-the-radar dynasties
• Amy Skrickus, Crofton (Md.) — The Cardinals won their third straight state title in the four-year history of the Crofton field hockey program, and Skrickus has been around for all of them
• Ron Stief, Lititz Warwick (Pa.) — In his second year, brought Warwick to the state final, and had one of the best coaching performances of the season, winning a berth in the state final the afternoon after former head coach Bob Derr passed away
• Megan Sullivan, Arlington Bishop O’Connell (Va.) — In her fourth year at O’Connell, she brought the Knights to the brink of a state championship, upsetting an undefeated side in the state tournament semifinal round

The awardee will be announced Dec. 27.