From Greenwich Academy Press
February 2003, Volume 19, Issue 5
Ellie Erdman, Staff Writer

In any field, the ultimate goal is to be recognized by your peers and that’s exactly what Angela Tammaro has done. And in more than one way. On January 11, in Galloway, New Jersey, she was named not only the National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association National High School Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year, but also the National Coach of the Year at the 2003 NFHCA Awards Luncheon.

The Mid-Atlantic region considers field hockey coaches at public and private schools all over Connecticut and New Jersey. Ms. Tammaro clearly stood out among all those considered. “I was surprised to hear about being honored and thrilled to be receiving both prestigious awards.”

Ms. Tammaro, a coaching legend at GA and well beyond, became head coach for the school over 30 years ago. Since then, she has become the school’s Director of Athletics, and along with the varsity field hockey team, she also coaches varsity lacrosse. This fall she led GA’s Green and Gold squad to victory, resulting in their nineteenth Fairchester Athletic Association title in a row. With more than 500 wins under her belt, Ms. Tammaro has come a long way since her last losing season as field hockey coach back in 1965.

As a teenager growing up in Rhode Island, Ms. Tammaro was certainly an athlete. She participated in many popular sports including basketball, field hockey, volleyball and softball in high school, and added lacrosse to her regimen while attending college at Boston University. She said, “Sports sparked an interest in me from the beginning,” and she had always wanted to become a coach.

“GA’s sports programs have been so successful because of the very enthusiastic and talented coaches and physical education teachers,” Ms. Tammaro said. “They, along with the kids, have a joy of sports and make our sports so rewarding to be a part of.” Despite being honored with many other coaching awards, Tammaro feels as though her greatest accomplishments aren’t the ones that lie on her shelf. “I want to see kids graduate from GA having a love of sports.” In her eyes, it’s the enthusiasm among students and coaches that keeps the GA’s intense athletic spirit alive. When asked what makes or breaks a team, Tammaro believes that the leadership the captains bring to the team is most important. She says that in order to be a great team player, you must trust your teammates and have a strong desire to win.

As for the upcoming 2003 lacrosse season, Tammaro’s goal is to simply be “as successful as they can possibly be and to finish the season having had fun.” She has no personal preference between field hockey and lacrosse, and loves coaching both varsity teams. She was ecstatic to learn that she had been recognized by a major association such as the NFHCA and was delighted to be honored, particularly on a national level. Most importantly, Tammy has a passion for sports that has not only influenced the girls on her teams, but anyone that has ever seen her coaching in action.

Tammy and friends at the awards ceremony.