WEST LONG BRANCH – Shore Regional High School’s field hockey field will be dedicated in honor of Nancy Williams, the school’s legendary coach.
It was an unanimous decision by the Board of Education to honor Williams, who retired in June after 44 years of coaching, said Shore Regional Superintendent Thomas Farrell.
Williams, who went 839-67-56 in 44 seasons at the helm of Shore field hockey, retired as the all-time winningest coach in the United States.
Though best known for being the only field hockey coach in Shore Regional history, Williams coached six different sports over three sports seasons during her 44 years.
A pioneer in the sport of field hockey, Williams also was heavily involved with the sport nationally, helping with All-America selections and national teams.
While Williams was head coach, the Shore Regional field hockey program won or produced:
- 19 Shore Conference Tournament titles of the 22 tournaments ever played, including the last 15 in a row.
- 13 overall state championships.
- 23 sectional championships.
- 43 consecutive division championships.
- 16 All-Americans.
Williams was a 1966 graduate from Shore Regional. She played field hockey, softball, and gymnastics at Trenton State College – now The College of New Jersey – until she graduated in 1970. At age 22, she returned to Shore Regional as a teacher and coach.
“She’s a legend,” said Harry Chebookjian, the school athletic director. “You just can’t replace her and expect things to be the same at Shore Regional year in and year out. She has created a tradition of field hockey excellence at Shore Regional,” he said.
The date of the ceremony naming the field for Williams has yet to be determined, but is expected to be in early September.
