Nancy Stevens - Field Hockey Coach - University of Connecticut Athletics

Nancy Stevens

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
nancy.stevens@uconn.edu

Not many programs have a volunteer assistant with the pedigree of Nancy Stevens. The long-time UConn head coach who retired in the fall of 2020, completed her fourth season as a volunteer assistant coach in 2023.

A three-time national champion head coach at the University of Connecticut, Nancy Stevens and the word success are synonymous. Having 30 seasons at Connecticut and her 41 as a head coach, Stevens has firmly secured the tradition of UConn field hockey among the nation's best.

Recognized as one of the top collegiate field hockey coaches in the nation, she compiled an impressive 700-189-24 record for a 77.98 winning percentage over her 41 total seasons. She became the first coach to reach 700 career victories after the No. 2 Huskies defeated No. 25 Fairfield in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on November 15, 2019.

In 2019, the Huskies finished the season with a 19-4 record and secured the No. 2 overall seed in the program's 17th straight NCAA Tournament. UConn captured its eighth consecutive Big East Tournament title and notched its seventh-straight Big East regular season championship. Svea Boker earned NFHCA First Team All-American status while also capturing NFHCA Mideast Region Player of the Year. Freshman Sophie Hamilton received NFHCA Third Team All-American accolades. UConn advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinal round for the 10th year in a row. Boker's accomplishments led to her being a finalist for National Player of the Year.

Stevens earned her 500th win at UConn in 2018, en route to the team's seventh consecutive BIG EAST Tournament title. The Huskies featured Olympian Cecile Pieper, who was named an NFHCA First Team All-American alongside senior Amanda Collins. UConn also won its sixth straight BIG EAST regular season title and competed in the NCAA Tournament for the 16th straight season. It marked the ninth straight season the Huskies have advanced to at least the quarterfinal round.

Stevens led the Huskies to their fifth national championship and third in five years in 2017, while guiding the program to its first undefeated season (23-0) and captured the sixth perfect season in the history of the NCAA sport. Just a few weeks prior, she led UConn to its sixth-straight BIG EAST Tournament title, 17th overall, including its 17th BIG EAST Regular Season Championship. This year's trip to the Final Four marked the program's 15th overall showing in the NCAA semifinals and fifth-straight appearance. Charlotte Veitner captured the two largest honors in the sport by being the 2017 National Player of the Year and winning the 2017 Honda Sports Award.

In 2013, Stevens became the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I Field Hockey history, surpassing Old Dominion coach Beth Anders as the sport's all-time winner. Stevens guided Connecticut to its third-ever national championship in 2013, finishing the season with a stellar 21-4 record. For her efforts, she received National Coach of the Year accolades from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and was also tabbed as the Regional Coach of the Year by the NFHCA.

In 2014, Stevens took the Huskies back to the top of the sport, winning back-to-back titles for the first time in school history. Her Huskies finished with a 20-2 record, winning their final 14 games of the season en route to the 2014 national crown.

In 2015, Stevens became the first coach across all divisions to reach 600 career wins, after defeating No. 10 Boston College, 2-1, on Sept. 13, 2015. She led the team to its fourth-straight Big East Tournament title and 15th Big East Regular Season crown. The Huskies were undefeated during the regular season and went on a 36-game win streak, dating back to the 2014 national championship run. UConn finished with a 22-1 overall record in 2015. For her accomplishments, Roisin Upton was nominated for National Player of the Year.

Stevens has guided the Huskies to the NCAA Tournament in 22 of the last 23 seasons overall and during that span, Connecticut has earned 18 NCAA quarterfinal berths and advanced to the NCAA National Semifinals 10 times. The Huskies are currently enjoying a streak of 17 straight NCAA berths, dating back to 2002. Stevens became the second coach all-time to win 500 games when the Huskies defeated No. 5 Syracuse, 2-1, to win the 2009 BIG EAST Tournament Championship.

Stevens is one of a select group of U.S. collegiate coaches to attend an International Hockey Federation (FIH) High Performance Coaching Course. The 25 coaches in attendance included top European club coaches as well as coaches preparing their teams for the Olympic Games. From this course, she received a further recommendation to attend an FIH Final Coaching Development Course.

The UConn coach has taken two Division I programs to a No. 1 ranking (Connecticut in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 1999 and Northwestern in 1985). Under Stevens, the Huskies have qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament in 29 of her 30 seasons, with a league record 19 different squads (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1996 and 1992) winning the conference tournament title. The 2019 season was the 24th UConn squad under Stevens that earned a berth to the NCAA Division I Championship, as her 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1990 teams qualified as well.

The 2017 campaign also marked UConn's sixth NCAA National Semifinal berth in the last seven seasons and the program's 10th overall under Stevens. Since beginning BIG EAST play in 1989, the UConn field hockey team has captured 17 of the 29 BIG EAST Tournament titles, including three in a row from 1998-2000 and 2012-14, four straight from 2004-07, and six straight from 2012-17. The Huskies have advanced to the conference championship game 24 times. In addition, the Huskies earned 17 of the last 21 regular season titles, including a stretch of five in a row from 2013-2017 and 1996-2000 and four consecutive crowns from 2002-2005.

A 13-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year, Stevens is also an eight-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association Mideast Coach of the Year (1996, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2013, and 2014). The UConn field hockey program has been ranked among the nation's elite consistently throughout Stevens' career.

In 1999, the Huskies sat atop the national poll for five consecutive weeks. After opening the year No. 6 in the nation, UConn defeated then top-ranked Penn State to take over at No. 1. Connecticut remained undefeated through the end of the regular season, before losing to eventual national finalist Michigan.

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 1988, she was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year when her team went 17-2-1, winning the league title and making an appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals. 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. Eight of her players have been selected to represent the Unites States as part of the National Team.

In addition to her players' being recognized for exceptional abilities, Coach Stevens has received a number of accolades in recognition of her excellence over the years. Additionally, four of her players at Northwestern were finalists for the Honda Broderick Award, with forward Jennifer Averill voted the winner in 1985. Former UConn All-America Kristen Kelly was named a finalist for this award in 1994. The program's second all-time leading scorer, Lauren Henderson, was a finalist for the prestigious honor in 2004.

Most recently, Lizzy Peijs was recognized as one of four finalists for the national player of the year award in 2006 while Lauren Scherer was a finalist in 2009 and Melissa Gonzalez a finalist in 2010. In 2013, forward/midfielder Marie Elena Bolles was named the Division I National Player of the Year by the NFHCA and was recognized as the Honda Sports Award Winner for Field Hockey.

Stevens also acted as Northwestern's assistant lacrosse coach for nine years and helped guide the Wildcats to five NCAA Championship appearances in her final seven seasons. She has been a part of the U.S. Field Hockey National Coaching Staff, serving in that capacity from 1982-1990. In 1997, she took over as coach for the U.S. Under-19 National Team - named "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.

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, she competed in the 1975 World Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland. That team was captained by former UConn coach Diane Wright.

Originally from Manheim, 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.

Stevens' Coaching Highlights

2017 Division I National Championship
2017 NFHCA National Coach of the Year
2014 Division I National Championship
2014 NFHCA National Coach of the Year
2013 Division I National Championship
2013 NFHCA National Coach of the Year
2007 NFHCA Hall of Fame Inductee
13 NCAA Semifinal Appearances
27 NCAA Quarterfinal Appearances
19 BIG EAST Regular Season Titles
19 BIG EAST Tournament Titles
13-Time BIG EAST Coach of the Year
1997 U.S. Under-19 National Coach
1996, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006 2011, 2013 and 2014 Mideast Region Coach of the Year
1988 Big Ten Coach of the Year
U.S. Field Hockey Team National Coaching Staff (1982-90)
U.S. Junior National Team Head Coach (1982-84)
U.S. Olympic Festival Head Coach North Team 1985-87 & 1989-90
National Team Trials Assistant Coach (1982-2000)
46 First Team All-America selections
10 U.S. National Team members
2003 inductee into the West Chester University Hall of Fame
2006 inductee into the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame

Stevens' Playing Highlights

U.S. National Team member & World Cup Team player
Captain, National Collegiate Champions - West Chester University
Gold Medal, U.S. Olympic Festival

NCAA All-Time Winningest Active Coaches

	Name	Wins	Current School
1*	Nancy Stevens	700	Connecticut (1990-present)
2*	Karen Shelton	669	North Carolina (1981-present)
3*	Missy Meharg	561	Maryland (1988-present)
4*	Charlene Morett-Curtiss	525	Penn State (1987-present)
5*	Sally Starr	475	Boston U. (1981-present)

The Nancy Stevens File

Connecticut		(520-139-8)
2019	19-4	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Quarterfinal
2018	19-4	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Quarterfinal
2017	23-0	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA National Champion
2016	22-2	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Semifinal
2015	22-1	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Semifinal
2014	20-2	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA National Champion
2013	21-4	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA National Champion
2012	19-3	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Quarterfinal
2011	19-3	Big East Regular Season Champion	NCAA Semifinal
2010	16-6	NCAA Quarterfinal
2009	19-3	Big East Tournament Champion	NCAA First Round
2008	17-4	Big East Regular Season Champion	NCAA First Round
2007	22-3	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Semifinal
2006	21-4	Big East Tournament Champion	NCAA Semifinal
2005	17-6	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Quarterfinal
2004	20-2	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA First Round
2003	17-6	Big East Regular Season Champion	NCAA Quarterfinal
2002	15-8	Big East Regular Season.Tournament Champion	NCAA First Round
2001	8-9
2000	17-7	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Quarterfinal
1999	23-1	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Semifinal
1998	19-4	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Semifinal
1997	16-7	Big East Regular Season Champion	NCAA Quarterfinal
1996	21-2	Big East Regular Season/Tournament Champion	NCAA Quarterfinal
1995	11-7	Big East Tournament Semifinal
1994	15-4-2	Big East Tournament Semifinal
1993	11-8-2	Big East Tournament Runner-Up
1992	10-9-1	Big East Tournament Champion
1991	10-8-1	Big East Tournament Runner-Up
1990	11-8-2	NCAA First Round
Northwestern		(152-35-12)
1989	18-4-1	NCAA Semifinal
1988	17-2-1	Big Ten Champion	NCAA Quarerfinal
1987	14-6-3	NCAA Quarterfinal
1986	15-4-2	NCAA Quarterfinal
1985	20-2	Big Ten Champion	NCAA Semifinal
1984	17-2-1	Big Ten Champion	NCAA Quarterfinal
1983	20-5	Big Ten Champion	NCAA Semifinal
1982	17-5	NCAA Quarterfinal
1981	14-5-4	Big Ten Championship Participant
Franklin and Marshall		(28-14-4)
1980	15-6-3	AIAW National Championship Quarterfinal
1979	13-8-1	AIAW National Championship Runner-Up