Every Wednesday, TCNJ Athletics will profile a coach from one of its programs. Today, it's head field hockey and women's lacrosse Sharon Pfluger '82. Pfluger has been a dominant force during her time at the college, posting a career record of 1,156-178-10. Her 532 career lacrosse wins are the most in NCAA history and her 624 career field hockey victories leads all NCAA Division III coaches. She has led 19 teams to NCAA Division III National Championships during her career.

You are now entering your 36^th season coaching at TCNJ following a four-year playing career. What is it about TCNJ that keeps you coming back year after year?

• I love TCNJ for many reasons and I love coaching our student-athletes.  TCNJ is my alma mater and I have always been very proud to be part of such an excellent college.  It is an institution where a student can experience a phenomenal education and interact with outstanding professors as well as caring and professional administrators and staff.  They can also explore a gorgeous campus and thrive in an environment with other diligent working peers who offer their best to achieve their goals.  Athletically, we have an experienced coaching staff for both sports where every coach offers something unique to the programs.  I am very proud of our staff and our student-athletes.

 
You are the winningest coach in NCAA Women's Lacrosse history with 532 career wins. You lead all Division III field hockey coaches with 624 career victories. You have coached 19 teams to national championships. What is the key to your success?

• I pay attention to the day-to-day goals we set and I honestly didn't realize all of that.  We really are only as good as we are each day. I live by certain basic fundamentals in life.  As far as success goes, I believe the key to anyone's success is to make a positive impact on the lives of others.  If we commit to this, there is a higher chance that success will closely follow. I have learned that there are many factors of success. Winning is important to everyone, yet a main goal of ours is to achieve little successes each day with skills and team chemistry. 
  
  Giving the best of oneself while creating a surrounding of loyalty, commitment, dedication, and laughter is key.All of these things create trust which is imperative to working together towards a common goal.People who are truly committed to the daily goals of the programs and, most importantly, the growth of the student-athletes are incredibly valuable. Our coaching staff guides our young adults to not only strive to reach their dreams, but to also help them continue to learn that communication, accountability, problem solving, and teamwork are critical to the educational process of learning how to be successful.One of the greatest rewards I receive from our student-athletes is hearing from them after graduation.It could be right away or it could be years later when they thank us for helping them become the people they are today.

 
What is it about TCNJ that sets itself apart from other colleges and athletic programs?

• There are so many wonderful things about TCNJ and the students who attend.  The education is outstanding!  The campus is very comfortable and aesthetically appealing.  It exudes a warm feeling of welcome to everyone. The students, professors, and staff are very friendly which adds to the comforting feeling. The professors are extremely knowledgeable, the administrators and staff are very supportive, and both groups are very caring.  The student-athletes are hard-working, down to earth people who are committed to helping their programs succeed.  All of the students and coaches support everyone's program.

 
 What are some of the top memories and moments from your coaching career?
 

• The complete breathtaking thrill of victory of every championship, the emotions on the sideline, the feeling when everything is clicking and the team runs like a well-oiled machine, the glory moments of critical games, the special moments when I have met eye to eye with a player when I know she realizes that everything is clicking for her, the site of happy assistant coaches and players who have achieved their goals. There are team moments, coaching moments, and individual player moments where we have encountered the most incredible emotions. 
  
  It has been an amazing experience for me thanks to our family at TCNJ, our student-athletes, our coaches, and administrators.  I am extremely fortunate to have had such a journey.  Our present players are very special to me, and our alumni are so very special to me as well.  Those who buy-in to the philosophies of teamwork, a diligent work ethic, caring about others, and learning the true meaning of how a team of student-athletes becomes a family are those who have benefited the most from the program.  I never imagined that I could have experienced something so special in my lifetime and I am grateful and thankful to everyone who helped to make that happen.

 
 
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your coaching career?
 

• I feel challenges are good and in sport, they are a part of the job every day.  I am not quite sure what the greatest challenge has been, but what I am sure of is that challenges keep us motivated.  Building a team each season is a huge task.  It is challenging and fun.  The biggest part is figuring out the adjustments that require attention to the individual differences of each student-athlete while pursuing the same goals year after year.  The sooner we figure this out, the sooner we can mold the team into championship caliber. 
  
  A solid foundation must be built in order to do this so we can lean on it throughout the entire season.  It is a one day at a time approach and the foundation must strengthen each day in order to develop a fully functioning cohesive unit.   This comes with working together and focusing on basic fundamentals of the sport and also of interpersonal relationships to build trust.  

 
 
Who are some of the people that have helped you the most in your career?

• There are people in my life who have guided me from a young age to where I am presently in my life.  From the awesome coaches, Ms. Deborah West, my high school coach, Ms. Melissa Spiedel, my college coach, to our athletic directors, administrators, and staff who believed in and supported me, to the professors who taught me how to be an educator, and of course, our assistant coaches who have helped on a daily basis. They all have made an everlasting impression on me. Finally, our student-athletes, both past and present, help me learn every day. 

 
 You are one of the few coaches in the country that are the head coach for multiple sports. How are you able to constantly produce highly competitive teams against programs with coaches dedicated to just one sport?

• This can only be done with outstanding assistant coaches.  Our coaching staff works diligently every day to meet the needs of our programs and our student-athletes.  It is a crazy year as we work around the clock to provide the services needed in order to maintain competitive programs that truly care about our student-athletes.  Many sacrifices are made and there is little room for relaxing, so I try to appreciate the small pockets of time to re-fuel for the next thing that is scheduled or that comes along. If that leads me to exhaustion by the end of each day and night, that is okay with me.  Being around people who make me laugh and helping others laugh is very important. Laughter is the best medicine as it is priceless, fun, and free.  It helps to bring the mind and body back to balance, creates and strengthens connections with others, and inspires hope.  
  
  Our programs would not function as they do without our loyal and dedicated assistant coaching staff.  Our full-time assistant, Robin Selbst, has been a major part of our programs for many years and does so much to aid in our quest to attain success. Our part time coaches also have a large impact on programs, including our recruitment process, skills, concepts, and strategies. 
  
  Bob Henderson, Richard Cox, and Jaclyn Scullin are our long-time assistant coaches who have provided an incredible amount of experience and knowledge to our programs.  Alumni, Jaclyn Douglas, Sidney Padilla, and Erin Harvey also have been extremely valuable to our programs. 

 
 
Outside of coaching, what would people find interesting about your day-to-day life?

• I am a homebody. I enjoy long walks and started riding my bicycle again since COVID. I miss running a lot and I would love to work out more each day! I love watching the best auditions of America's and Britain's Got Talent.  I love the Golden Buzzer moments as it reminds me of the feelings when winning a national championship!  Those few seconds when life is at its best!  My children think I am so weird for doing this, but I love it.  I watch animal rescue posts all the time.  I think about getting more animals, but that time will have to be after I stop working. 

 
Is there anything you would like to say to all of the student-athletes that you have coached?

• Our alumni are very special to me.  In my mind and heart, they never really leave our program, they just continue to enhance it. There is an incredible bond because of the experiences we have shared.  Everyone has comfort with each other.  We relive some of the best days of our lives without even saying a word.  It is a silent understanding that we all came through for each other.  It is truly a remarkable emotion.  Thank you for the greatest journey a coach could have, thank you for sharing yourselves with our coaching staff and each other, thanks for all of your hard work and for sticking through things even on our most challenging days.  Thank you for trusting me.  Thanks for always making me feel that it is great to be a lion.  Thank you for making me laugh and for providing me with the most thrilling moments a coach or anyone could ever ask for.  I am rich in loving and memorable experiences because of you.  Thank you for everything you have been and everything you continue to be to me.  I love you!

Extra Point - Question from Last Week's Coach Profile George Nazario.  If you had the opportunity to become a professional coach in your sport, would you do it?

• No, I don't think I would coach at the professional level of the sports I love coaching.  I am not very comfortable flying so that would be a problem and I like to stay close to home.  I truly enjoy coaching young adults as I feel there is an enormous responsibility to help them thrive while in college by educating them through the sports I coach. 

 
Pose a question you would like to hear answered by our next coach.

• What choice of profession do you think you would have made if you hadn't become a collegiate coach?