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28 2012 Stags Field Hockey
STAGS GIVE BACK
Senior day has been a staple of the Fairfield University
field hockey schedule. The ceremony gives Head Coach Jackie
Kane an opportunity to celebrate the end of a player’s career.
For some, the days of playing may be finished, but
their association with the game does not necessarily come to
an end. Jodie Kuczarski-Shannon, Dani Brown, and Lauren
Thomas are three former student-athletes who continue to give
back to the game.
Kuczarski-Shannon remains as the head field hockey
coach for Fairfield-Warde High School, where she has won a
state championship. Brown coaches a club field hockey team
when she is not serving as an official at high school and college
games. Thomas, who coached three seasons at Fairfield
University after her graduation, worked with youth programs as
a coach in the United States Futures Program and is now
coaching a high school field hockey program.
“I have a deep sense of pride for all the young women
who play field hockey and graduate from Fairfield University,”
Coach Kane said. “The life of a student athlete is not easy at
Fairfield University because of the academic and athletic
demands. Jodie, Dani, and Lauren are very special because
they are giving back to the game and to the University They are
part of a large tradition of former Stags coaching after gradua-
tion. In total, 24 alumni have served as a youth, high school, or
college coach.”
Kuczarski-Shannon teaches mathematics at Fairfield
Warde in addition to her coaching responsibilities. She also
coached the lacrosse program to the state title before giving up
the position after the birth of her second child.
“I enjoyed my years at Fairfield University both as a
student and as an athlete,” Kuczarski-Shannon said. “The
University prepared me for my life both as an educator and as
a coach.”
Brown has always been involved with youth programs
since her graduation. She also went into education, teaching in
the City of Bridgeport. Brown remains active with the game of
field hockey as an internationally rated official.
“Field hockey has always been an important part of my
life,” Brown said. “The fact that I was able to play the game at
the collegiate level and receive a quality education makes me
really appreciate Fairfield University. I did not want what I
learned about hockey and competitive athletics to stop upon
graduation. Through officiating, I have gained a new perspec-
tive and appreciation for the sport.”
Thomas also took the coaching track upon her gradu-
ation with her first stop at her alma mater. After three years as
an assistant to Coach Kane, Thomas moved to New York where
she accepted a Futures coaching position. She spent three
years as a goalkeeper coach in Connecticut before taking a
field coaching position in New York last season.
Futures is a development program for U-14 and U-19
players. It has expanded to include younger players, as early as
elementary school age. The program develops skills and culti-
vates interest in the sport through regional and national tourna-
ments.
Plus, Thomas runs a summer camp at Stamford High
School - Just For Styx. She recently completed her second sea-
son with the camp as its director.
“I look at Futures as a way to give back,” Thomas said.
“It gives me a chance to bring my experience as a college play-
er and as a coach to girls who can benefit from that experience.
I had such great coaches in high school and in college that I
wanted to have that same influence on young players today.”
With three players still involved in the game, Coach
Kane looks back with a sense of pride, the same pride that she
will have when the class of 2011 takes the field for the last
time on Senior Day this October.
Dani Brown
Jodie Kuczarski-Shannon
Lauren Thomas