Karen Shelton

Karen Christina Shelton (born November 14, 1957 in Honolulu, Hawaii) is a former field hockey player from the United States, who was a member of the national team that won the bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. She attended West Chester State and was a member of three field hockey NCAA championship winning teams. She had previously qualified for the 1980 Olympic team but did not compete due to the Olympic Committee's boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia. As consolation, she was one of 461 athletes to receive a Congressional Gold Medal many years later.[1]

Karen Shelton
Personal information
BornNovember 14, 1957 (1957-11-14) (age 62)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Medal record
Women's Field Hockey
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
1984 Los Angeles Team competition

College

While at West Chester State, Shelton won the Honda Award (now the Honda Sports Award) as the nation's best field hockey player three consecutive years, 1976–77, 1977–78, and 1978–79.[2][3][4]

Coach

She has been the head coach for the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill since 1981 and since then has led the Tar Heels to eight NCAA Championships and eight NCAA runner-up finals.

Highlights
  • U.S. National Team member (1978–84)
  • Three-time winner of the Honda Award (now the Honda Sports Award), in 1976–77, 1977–78, and 1978–79[4]
  • Member of the 1980 and 1984 U.S. Woman's Olympic Field Hockey team
  • U.S. Olympic bronze medalist in field hockey (1984)
  • Head coach at UNC Chapel Hill (1981- )
  • Record of 628-159-9 in 34 seasons
  • Five-time National Coach of the Year (1994,’95,’96,’07,'09)
  • Nine-time ACC Coach of the Year (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2015). Shelton has won the honor more times than any coach in league history.
  • Coach of NCAA Championship teams in 1989, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2007,2009, and 2018
  • UNC Field Hockey ACC Championships with Shelton coaching: 17*
  • NCAA appearances with Shelton coaching: 25
  • NCAA Final Four appearances with Shelton coaching: 14
  • Ranks third in Division 1 history in both wins (482) and winning percentage (.782)
  • Member of the NFHCA Hall of Fame (for coaching accomplishments – inducted in 2008)and the U.S. Field Hockey Association Hall of Fame (for player accomplishments – inducted in 1989)
  • Inducted to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in Jan. 2010 (first field hockey player or coach inducted)

as of the end of the 2010 regular season*

References
  1. Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry. Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
  2. "Hoffman Wins Honda Award". University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  3. "Kelly Dostal Crowned National Field Hockey Player Of The Year". Wake Forest University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  4. "Field Hockey". CWSA. Retrieved 2020-03-29.


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