Watertown Field Hockey Watertown Field Hockey Coach Eileen Donahue celebrated win number 700 in 2021.
Watertown High School Field Hockey Coach Eileen Donahue received the Coach of the Year award from the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Donahue was one of 24 high school coaches from across the country in a range of sports to be selected as 2023-24 National Coaches of the Year by the NFHS Coaches Association. She was the only honoree from Massachusetts.
The coaches are nominated by the NFHS member state associations, which often works with the state coaches’ association in its respective state, according to the NFHS announcement, which continued: “The state association then contacts the potential state award recipients to complete a coach profile form that requests information regarding the coach’s record, membership in and affiliation with coaching and other professional organizations, involvement with other school and community activities and programs, and coaching philosophy.”
Donahue shared her philosophy in the event program:
“I believe it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Whatever athletic level each player is at, I do my best to teach them that they can always do better. I build on each player contributing at a high level on the team. All my teams create their own identity. We don’t get caught up into individual stats. It’s the team accomplishments that are important. Every practice my players consistently compete with each other. I encourage them to embrace the uncomfortable. Over time, when a player accepts the process, and buys into the training, that’s where I see their development and confidence shine. This all helps with the success of our team.”
The program also listed Donahue’s achievements as Watertown’s coach through 2024, her 39th year of coaching:
Career Record 771-34-46
NFHS Records – 184 Game Undefeated Streak and 124 Consecutive Wins
MIAA State Championships – 21
MIAA Div. 2 North Championships – 26
Middlesex League Championships – 34
Massachusetts Women in Athletics Distinguished Service Award 2020
Pathfinder Award for commitment to girls and women in sports 2012
Coach of the Year Honors: NFHCA 2000, 2013, Top of the Circle United States 2014
Hall of Fame Honors: new Agenda Northeast 1995, Watertown High School 1997, Belmont High School 2001, National Field Hockey Coaches Association 2020
K-5 Physical Education Teacher