By Carlie Spano
The sound of sticks hitting balls and the roaring cheers of supporters surround Mamaroneck High School as the field hockey team gets ready for yet another thrilling season. Leading the way is Tricia Miller whose transformation from an enthusiastic young athlete to a powerful mentor represents the spirit of perseverance and commitment. She views coaching as a means of influencing young athletes' lives rather than simply winning sports, even with such a successful team.
Miller's passion for field hockey began when she was in the seventh grade at Rye Neck Middle School in Rye, New York, and saw her older sister Cheryl dominate the game.
"Cheryl really inspired me," she said. "I wanted to play the same position and wear the same number as her."
She was inherently competitive, so she set out to equal, if not exceed, her sister's abilities. With supportive parents cheering her on from the sidelines, her eighth-grade dream was to make the varsity team.
She excelled in three sports in high school: basketball, soccer, and field hockey.
"Being a part of teams that excelled pushed me to work hard," she said. That led her to play collegiate sports, field hockey, at the University of Rhode Island. She picked up skills and a passion for the game from her coach, who was elected into the Field Hockey Hall of Fame in high school.
Years later, following the birth of her first child, she received a call from a friend from her playing days suggesting she become a coach. She took up the challenge head-on, beginning at the middle school level. She remembers, "It was a perfect way to stay connected to the sport I loved”, she said.
She worked her way up the coaching ladder, spending 24 years as assistant varsity coach and JV coach, at Mamaroneck High School, until taking over as head coach three years ago.
As a coach, Miller said she finds that her players' growth is more fulfilling than any scoreboard.
"I want to teach them life lessons they can carry beyond the field, like resilience, teamwork, and discipline”, she said.
Despite balancing full-time work and family obligations, she devotes numerous hours to coaching.
She said her relationship with past athletes is one of the most heartwarming parts of her coaching career.
"I have players of mine who now have kids coming to watch our games”, she said.
She continues the tradition of mentoring by working with former players and her daughter Nicole.
"Coaching with them has been an incredible experience," Miller said.
Miller said she has gain
ed great experience in patience, communication, and adaptability over the years that she has been a coach.
"Every player is unique, and it's important to understand what drives each one specifically”, she said.
She said her confidence in the significant influence a coach can have on young lives. "Observing the girls develop into self-assured young women is incredibly fulfilling," she said.
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