Pioneer High School field hockey coach Jane Nixon named National Coach of the Year

Region coach of the year back in December. Nixon, who was involved in a serious auto accidentNixon was one of 5 finalists considered after being named the NFHCA West in November, had one request when she heard of her candidacy: “I better not get any sympathy votes.”

She didn’t need them.

Nixon has been head coach at Pioneer for the past 6 seasons (she was co-head coach from 1990-2003) and led the Pioneers to their fifth consecutive state championship in the fall. The Pioneers have won 17 of their 21 state championships during her tenure.

“It’s an award for the program and all the great athletes who have come through Pioneer through the years,” Nixon said in an earlier interview.

"The NFCHA is proud to honor Jane as our 2009 High School Coach of the Year," said NFCHA president Becca Main Kohli. "She is being recognized not only for her ability to win championships but also for her role as a mentor to her student-athletes and her coaching colleagues."

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2561 or petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.