As the fall season begins the players take the field, as well as the coaches. More specifically the freshman field hockey coach Rob Romano. Coach Romano has been the assistant varsity girls lacrosse head coach since 2013, and recently became the freshman field hockey coach in 2024.
After years of coaching NHS football he decided to stop and take his fall seasons off until Kyle Seaburg – the head varsity field hockey coach – approached Romano about the field hockey role Romano accepted because “it felt very natural for me, as I have been coaching girls sports for about 11 years now,” said Romano.
After accepted the role Romano learned how to play the game over the summer. He used google as well as a website of coaching drills from Coach Seaburg. He would also watch international and olympic games. “You know as the teacher the best teachers are learners, so I would talk to other coaches and I would learn from, to be honest some of the experienced varsity players as well,” says Coach Romano.
Romano loves building relationships with the players and helping them instill confidence. His goals for this year is to have fun and to teach, no matter how experienced the player is. “And to instill the drive to compete within our freshman athletes, no matter who you play, no matter the obstacles if you have fun and you can keep your head up no matter the result.”
This is only his second year coaching the freshman field hockey team and he has already made an impact on so many players. When talking about coach Romano there was a common theme throughout the freshman field hockey teams answers. Some words that they used to describe him included encouraging, positive, dedicated, supportive and passionate. “He makes playing the game fun but also wants us to be the best we can be, his way of coaching makes us all feel supported and valued,” said Grace Muro, a freshman field hockey player.
Romano loves to see his players improve, his favorite part is “the smiles on their faces when they do something good. I remember last year we has a new freshman joined the team a couple of weeks late, and by the end of the season, she scored a goal and that smile, those types of memories, those types of moments for our plays is what stick with me the most.”
Romano continues to support these girls everyday on and off the field. He loves coaching and can’t wait to see what the rest of the season brings.
