Sharon E. Taylor served as Director of Athletics at Lock Haven University from 1988 to 2012. The majority of Bald Eagle and Lady Eagle teams competed at the NCAA Division II level, with the exception of the Field Hockey and Wrestling programs, which competed at the Division I level.
The former women’s field hockey coach at LHU, Taylor earned an impressive 333-96-27 record at the helm of the Lady Eagles from 1973-95, making her the winningest coach in LHU history. Taylor guided The Haven to six national championships, seven PSAC titles and seven additional national championship or semi-final appearances. In her final season as head coach, Taylor led the Lady Eagles to a perfect 21-0 record and her final PSAC and NCAA Division II crowns. In addition, her 1979 lacrosse team won the first Division II National Championship sponsored by the USWLA. Taylor was named NCAA National “Coach of the Year” three times and PSAC Coach of the Year four times. In 1973, the ECAC honored Taylor with Administrator of the Year and the Katherine Ley Award in 1988. Taylor was named ECAC President in 1989.
Taylor is responsible for having conceived and initiated the idea for a collegiate championship in the sport of field hockey. Working first within the USFHA and later in conjunction with the AIAW, she guided the origination and development of the championship which was the forerunner of today’s NCAA Field Hockey Championship. A tireless advocate for issues of civil rights and fairness in society, Taylor has worked to expand opportunities for girls and women in education, sport and athletics competition, specifically, since the advent of the passage of Title IX in 1972. She is recognized nationally as one of the pioneers for athletics equality and a continuing source of commitment to the promise of Title IX.