Julie Kayzerman
Managing Editor
Coming off a huge win at Nationals, field hockey Coach Sharon Pfluger was recently named the Field Hockey / NFHCA Division III National Coach of Year. This is the highest honor from her peers and the second time in the last four seasons she’s won it.
“I really feel like it’s an honor for the whole program and the entire coaching staff,” Pfluger said. “I’m flattered, and I feel very honored to have the support of my colleagues in the field hockey coaching world, but I just truly feel that it’s about all of us, it’s not just about me.”
This is Pfluger’s third coaching honor after being named the 2014 NJAC coach of the Year and the 4U Field Hockey / NFHCA Division III South Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year. She has coached the Lions to nine NCAA Division III Championships in her 30 years of coaching at the College.
This past season, Pfluger coached a team that went 23-1 and finished the year on a 15-game winning streak. However, despite her recognition, she realizes none of it would’ve been possible without the girls on her team.
“Every single player is so valuable to us, everybody is important,” Pfluger said.
She also made sure to recognize her experienced coaching staff, especially her full-time assistant, Robin Selbst, who has been extremely valuable to the program for over 13 years, according to Pfluger. The staff also includes the talent of assistants Richard Cox, Jackie Scullin and Kelly Mitchell, all of whom Pfluger highly praised as being vital to the team’s success.
“It’s a very experienced staff, so I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by such good coaches and good people,” Phelps said. “It’s special to be a part of.”
As Pfluger spends the spring season coaching the College’s lacrosse team, she is greeted with familiar faces as several girls play both field hockey and lacrosse, linking the two programs together with a tight bond.
Going into her upcoming lacrosse season, Pfluger thinks her team is more pumped than ever after several girls drove down to watch their teammates and friends win the field hockey National Championship last semseter.
“I think the lacrosse players are saying, “Yeah I want that, too” and it just excites the level of enthusiasm and motivation.” Pfluger said. “When they see their peers attain such a wonderful achievement, then they say, ‘It’s doable, we can do this.’”
