VICTORIA - Capping off an epic coaching career with a fourth-straight national title, Lynne Beecroft, the winningest coach in U SPORTS women's field hockey history, has officially retired.
  
Riding off into the sunset after 39 seasons leading the University of Victoria women's field hockey team, Beecroft's impact is forever embedded in the fabric of the program.

A four-time Hall-of-Famer, Beecroft's legacy is measured in more than just banners—but if it was measured in banners, she would be untouchable, amassing an unparalleled 15 over her career.

For Beecroft, though, while the championship banners are nice, she hopes her legacy will live on through the impact she has made over her nearly four decades leading the Vikes.

"I didn't get into coaching thinking about what my legacy would be. My hope is that the athletes I've coached have come away with, not only field hockey skills, but life skills, so that when they enter the 'real' world some of the lessons I've taught will resonate," said Beecroft.

"Our athletes go on to be quite successful, and if they can take these lessons and apply them to their careers and even their relationships, that means more to me than anything else."

Reflecting on her career, Beecroft, who earned the nickname Buzz for her speed and tenacity as a player, says that much of how things unfolded in her life and her coaching journey are synchronistic.

That synchronicity started early when coming out of Grade 12, Buzz, a star basketball player, planned on playing basketball for UVic. However, her field hockey coach, Peter Wilson, would only sign her school annual if she promised to try out for the provincial field hockey team. That year (1975), she spent the summer representing B.C. on two teams, both of which captured gold.

After having so much success with field hockey over the summer and making many great friendships, Buzz decided to change course and join her friends on the UVic women's field hockey team—the same team that went on to earn a silver and two bronze CIAU medals during her time.

"That decision was for the best because I'm not very tall (5'3"), and I didn't have a very good outside shot," she said.

Beecroft parlayed her talent on the pitch into a career with Canada's national team from 1977-85, where she earned 58 international caps, including four World Cups and a trip to the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

While coaching wasn't on Beecroft's radar, in 1984, current Vike and now Hall-of-Famer Nancy Mollenhauer asked her Canadian teammate (Beecroft) to help coach a talented Vikes squad. That season, with a $3000 honorarium, Beecroft helped lead the women's field hockey team to its first CIAU championship and would go on to step in as the full-time head coach after that.

Thirty-eight seasons later, once again in perfect synchronicity, Beecroft's coaching career wrapped up in storybook fashion, winning a fourth-consecutive U SPORTS national title, complete with an epic full-circle moment.  

"I started my career winning a championship with Nancy Mollenhauer in her final season, and I finished my career winning a championship with her daughter Anna Mollenhauer in her final season. We also had Judy Christante finishing her career, who is former player Kolette Christante's (Bourne) daughter—so to have that full circle moment bookend my time as a coach is really powerful for me." 
 

With the perfect end to a historic career, Beecroft's mark has been made on the program and the lives of the hundreds of student-athletes she's coached over the years.

"What Buzz has achieved over the 39 years coaching at UVic is simply phenomenal. The true genius and impact can only be felt by those who have lived it or been involved firsthand at some level," said Director of Varsity Performance Sport, Nick Clarke. 

 "In my opinion, Buzz is the mastermind behind one of, if not the best student-athlete programs in Canada. We cannot thank her enough for all she has done for women's sport and all she has taught us. An inspiration to us all." 

Lucky for everyone, while her coaching career may have come to a close, besides working on her golf game and joining a hiking group, Beecroft is considering sharing her coaching philosophy and approach by writing a book. 

"I have a pretty unique coaching style, and over the years, people have told me I should write a book. I don't know if it will happen, but I think I have a different perspective on coaching that could be cool to share," said Beecroft. 

In the meantime, in honour of Beecroft and to continue her legacy, the Vikes women's field hockey program is launching a new Lynne' Buzz" Beecroft Student Award.

The creation of the Lynne' Buzz' Beecroft Student Award will be accepting contributions to build a financial award to support UVic women's field hockey players whose attributes align with what Beecroft looked for her in her players.

Read more about Beecroft's legacy and the student award here. 

For more information or to contribute in Lynne Beecroft's name, visit the award page.