Field Hockey

 Head Coach Jackie Kane remains the cornerstone of the Fairfield University field hockey program, as she begins her 19th year with the program. She played four seasons with the Stags from 1982-86, and spent the last 14 campaigns as the team's head coach. She has won more games than any other coach, entering the 2008 season with 99 victories. 

Kane has led the team to a post-season conference tournament in five of the last eight years, including four straight Patriot League appearances from 1998 to 2001. She capped the 1998 season by earning Patriot League Coach of the Year honors. She graduated from the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy in 2006.

 In 2004, Kane guided the Stags to the Northeast Conference championship game in their first season of competition, successfully making the transition from the Patriot League. Under her tutelage, Fairfield captured a regular-season (1998) title and a tournament championship (2001) in the Patriot League.

Fairfield made its only NCAA appearance in program history in 2001, taking on the University of Maryland in first-round play.

The team's winning ways are even more impressive considering Kane's desire for a national-caliber schedule, which has included ranked teams such as William & Mary, Boston University, Iowa, Northeastern , and UConn.

In addition to the team's athletic accomplishments, Kane's players have excelled in the classroom. More than 30 Stags have earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Academic Team honors, and more than 50 have garnered Conference All-Academic accolades. In 2006-07, the field hockey team had the highest team GPA at Fairfield University. Ten players have been selected to the Mideast Regional All-America team, and five players have participated in the NFHCA All-Star Game.

Her coaching career began at her high school alma mater - Mount St Joseph Academy in Flourtown, Pa. In her first three years, Kane led the Chiefs to two championship games and posted a 38-7-5 overall record.

She earned a master's degree in education from St. Joseph's University.
Kane has three children - Jack (12), Mimi (11) and Tommy (10).

 Kara Zappone begins her third season with Fairfield after spending four years as a member of  the University of Iowa field hockey team.
 
 She was the team's captain in 2006 and led the Hawkeyes to the Big Ten Tournament championship and a berth to the NCAA tournament. In 2004, Iowa won the Big Ten regular season title and advanced to the NCAA tourney.

 She captured Iowa's practice player of the year in 2005. Zappone was the Hawkeyes' nominee for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2005, 2006, and 2007, and captured the award in 2007. In the classroom, Zappone earned a spot on the Academic Dean's List in 2006.