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STAMFORD, Conn. -- Kerry Leonard starred as an athlete at Westhill High School. Now, she's hoping to distinguish herself as the new coach of the field hockey team at Stamford High.
Leonard was named the coach last week to replace Matt Forker, who resigned to take an administrative position. Leonard, who also coaches the girls ice hockey team at Wilton High, had served as an assistant coach at Darien High last year under Mo Minicus. This will be her first field hockey head coaching position.
"Even though I played at Westhill, Boyle Stadium was my favorite place to play field hockey in high school because of the turf and atmosphere,'' Leonard said. "To have the opportunity to have Boyle Stadium as a home field is something that does touch close to home. It will be exciting to coach locally and within the district that I will be teaching in. Stamford High has a history of strong field hockey which I hope to continue."
Leonard learned coaching from one of the best in Minicus, whose team has won four straight state championships. Stamford won consecutive Class L championships under Forker in 2007-2008, and also won the state title in 1999.
"Mo is a phenomenal coach. She knows the game, how to run a program top down, but more importantly, how to read and relate to her players,'' Leonard said. "I think the two things that stick out to me that Mo has taught me is to never underestimate an opponent, and to continue to work on weaknesses until they become strengths."
Leonard starred in field hockey and ice hockey in high school, and had an outstanding career in ice hockey at Hamilton College. Now she's teaching and coaching in Stamford, albeit at her alma mater's archrival.
"Becoming a head coach in field hockey was something that I've always thought of, but this did come out of the blue,'' Leonard said.
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