Summer Washburn was named Drew University's head field hockey coach in January 2022. She comes to the Forest from Babson College, where she helped the Beavers to a successful four-year run that included a conference title and a pair of trips to the NCAA Division III championship tournament. She also served as an assistant for both field hockey and lacrosse at Trinity (Conn.) College for three seasons (2015-17) and helped the Bantams to multiple NCAA Division III tournament appearances.
Q: After your hiring in January, you had the opportunity to work with your team this past spring. Can you talk about your first impressions so far?
Washburn: We had a great spring - the team is a fun group with a strong foundation and culture. They did everything I asked of them, put in work on and off the field, and we saw good progress in a short time. I can't wait to get them back on campus, have a season with them, and continue to make progress as a team and a program.
Q: Before arriving at Drew, you helped both Babson and Trinity (Conn.) to a high level of success. How do you feel your previous stops have impacted you as a coach?
Washburn: I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work at both Trinity and Babson leading up to Drew. The exposure to high-caliber athletes, experienced coaches and mentors, and supportive departments was incredibly impactful early on in my career and opened my eyes to the possibilities these students-athletes can achieve. I coached both field hockey and lacrosse at Trinity and was able to work with and learn from two different coaching styles. At Babson, I was given a lot of responsibility and freedom from the head coach, which helped me grow as a coach and a leader. We saw increasing success each year at Babson, ending with a NEWMAC conference title and a trip to the Elite 8 my final year there.
Q: How would you describe your coaching style?
Washburn: I like to create an environment for competition. We make everything a competition and play a lot of small-sided games, which I believe helps lead to more focus and purpose with what we are doing.
Q: What attracted you to Drew University?
Washburn: Drew is in a great location, provides its students with a top-notch education and experiences to prepare them for life after college, and the field hockey program has a strong history of success with an incredible alumni network supporting the players.
Q: You enjoyed an outstanding career as a student-athlete at Salisbury University, earning First-Team All-America honors as a senior. What lessons did you take away from your playing days that have stuck with you as a coach?
Washburn: Being a collegiate student-athlete is a really special opportunity and experience. The biggest things I took away from my playing days are how important it is to be a team player, accountability, and to enjoy all parts of the ride - the ups, the downs, the wins and the losses.
Q: How did your coaching career get started?
Washburn: I have been surrounded by sports my whole life and didn't want to give up the team aspect and daily routine of going to practice. My dad is a coach, many of my siblings are coaches, and I was fortunate to have had incredible coaches in high school and college who have all impacted who and where I am today. My college coach, Dawn Chamberlin, played a large role in helping me navigate and get my foot in the door for coaching, leading me to the graduate assistant position at Trinity as my first stop after graduation.
Q: Who have been some of the biggest influences in your career?
Washburn: My dad, my high school coaches (Kate Dolan and Martha Fenton), my college coach (Dawn Chamberlin), and the Babson field hockey head coach (Julie Ryan).
Q: What do you like best about coaching?
Washburn: I love the atmosphere around sports and teams, and the relationships I have built with my players
Q: If you weren't coaching, what would you be doing?
Washburn: I would probably be a Phys Ed teacher somewhere or working at a boarding school in New England.
