Varsity Head Coach – Lillian Shelton
Lillian Shelton has been the only Field Hockey coach that Severna Park High School has ever had. Coach Shelton fielded the first team in 1975 and in the following year helped expand the sport throughout Anne Arundel County. Over the years (1975 through 2006)Coach Shelton’s teams have a record of 461 wins, 50 loses, and 9 ties. There have been 28 County, 25 Regional, and 16 State Championships during this time.
Born in Atlanta, GA., Coach Shelton graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Education in 1952. With husband Vince, she raised four children in Richmond VA. In 1971, the family moved to Severna Park and Coach Shelton accepted a teaching position as a Physical Education instructor at Severna Park High School in January 1973. During this time, Coach Shelton completed her Masters Degree in Counseling from the University of Richmond in 1975. Coach Shelton retired from teaching at Severna Park High School on July 1, 2000.
Over the years, Coach Shelton has been instrumental in the promotion of girls athletics at all levels. Coach Shelton continues to conduct the field hockey Junior League for girls ages 7-17 in Anne Arundel County. She organized the Mid-State Field Hockey Association, Inc. and served as President for six years. This program sponsors activities to keep players involved in hockey in the off season and has evolved into the present day Spark Program that continues to compete on the National level.
Personal Awards include: Anne Arundel County Commission for Physical Fitness (1981 inductee), Governors Fitness Award (1982), Executive Citation Award (1984), National Federation of State High School Association’s Outstanding Coach (1985), Washington Post Coach of the Year (1987, 1998), Baltimore Sun Coach of the Year (1987, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998), Capital Coach of the Year (1995), Who’s Who Among American Teachers (1996, 1999, 2002), Anne Arundel County Hall of Fame (1997), National Field Hockey Coaches Association Victory Club (1997 for attaining 300 victories), National Field Hockey Hall of Fame (2002), National Federation of State High School’s Coach of the Year for Maryland (2003).
Coach Shelton received the “Bob Pascal Award” for contributions to the athletic programs in Anne Arundel County in 1989, the “Scholastic Magazine Award for Dedication” to the student athletics in 1989 and the “Coaches Care Award” in 1992. Sports Illustrated magazine presented her in the “Faces in the Crowd” section for outstanding contributions to women’s sports in 1997. She was voted Coach of the Year for the Baltimore Examiner in 2006.
Varsity Assistant Head Coach – Sue Behringer
Coach Sue Behringer has served as the Assistant Head Coach in charge of the defense at Severna Park High School for the last 17 years.
During this time, the Falcons have achieved an astounding 283-17-4 record, with Coach Behringer’s defenses allowing only 132 goals (0.46 per game). Equally impressive is the fact that, since her arrival, the Severna Park High School girl’s lacrosse team has won every county championship, has won 15 of 17 regional championships and won 11 Maryland state championships.
Coach Behringer has mentored many field hockey defenders and goalies that have gone on to star at all levels of NCAA competition.
Prior to coming to SPHS, Behringer was the Head Lacrosse Coach at Seton Keough High School, in Baltimore, for 11 years. She has also been a coach in both the field hockey and the lacrosse programs for the Green Hornets Recreation Program.
Coach Behringer was raised in Catonsville, MD. She was a two sport starter for Bucknell University (lacrosse and field hockey), where she is a member of the Bucknell Hall of Fame for Lacrosse.
Junior Varsity Head Coach - Jennifer Steele
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