Trinity College associate athletic director and former field hockey, women’s lacrosse, and women’s basketball coach Robin Sheppard was one of seven 2002 inductees into the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame. Sheppard was honored at the Hall of Fame’s annual dinner and induction ceremony on September 8.

Sheppard coached field hockey at Trinity for 24 seasons, compiling a 240-67-13 overall record. During that time, she coached the Bantams to four National Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC) championship titles; three Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Championship appearances, including an ECAC title in 1992; and four NCAA Division III Championship appearances, including two trips to the NCAA Final Four. In 1997, she was named the National Field Hockey Coaches Association New England Coach of the Year.

Sheppard retired from coaching following the 1998-1999 academic year to assume full-time duties as associate athletic director and senior women’s administrator in the Trinity athletic department. She has been instrumental in the institution of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program, which encourages and nurtures the overall development of the student-athlete during his or her intercollegiate athletic career.

“I feel like I’ve been blessed with two great jobs in my lifetime.” Sheppard says of her tenure as coach and, now, associate athletic director. “This really feels like the icing on the cake.”

In January of this year, Sheppard was inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame at its annual luncheon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sheppard, a native of Bridgeton, New Jersey, starred in field hockey and lacrosse at Trenton State (now The College of New Jersey).

Sheppard says she often thinks about the winning teams from 1974 to 1992 that were unable to compete in NCAA tournaments because of NESCAC rules at the time. “They really set the groundwork for me and all the women who came after them,” Sheppard says. “I’m honored to accept this induction on behalf of all of the teams I’ve coached since 1974.”