Steve Jennings, the head coach of the AU field hockey team, was a member of the United States men's field hockey team that competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He said the team's trip to Atlanta was nothing short of a disaster.
"The team in Atlanta had a lot of distractions that hurt our performance," he said. "Some players checked out when they got there."
The main distraction came upon the team's arrival in Atlanta, when the team learned that head coach Jon Clark had falsified his resume. The team felt betrayed by their coach, and even worse, had to speak about it at press conferences for days.
The result was an absolute clobbering that saw the United States finish in last place out of the twelve competing teams, outscored by their opponents 30-4 in seven games. Jennings tallied one of the four goals, but it wasn't nearly enough to clean out the bitter taste that Atlanta left in his mouth.
Twelve years later, Jennings said he has taken the lessons learned of missed opportunity and has rebuilt a program to excellence that was once left in shambles of mediocrity.
Jennings, born and raised in Bethesda, Md., is now in his 10th season as head coach of the AU Eagles, and has lead the team to six straight Patriot League titles. He spent time as an assistant at the university, coached at Ohio State University, and then returned to AU as head coach. When he arrived back on campus, he had plans to change the culture of winning for the program.
"My job when I came here was to make sure the kids could have the best experience possible, and that's win," Jennings said. "I want them to think about themselves in a professional way."
To build the program in such a way was certainly not easy. AU didn't have a field hockey facility when Jennings arrived, so the team had to wake up at 6 a.m. to travel to the University of Maryland, College Park, for practice. The rigor of the schedule was difficult on the student athletes, but Jennings said he believes it solidified the team.
"Going to Maryland was real challenging," he said. "But it was a real strange blessing."
It's the positive attitude that Jennings brings to his athletes that helps them persevere through harsh times. Jennings, who graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, said he takes what he learned in study and translates it in his coaching style.
"Steve's coaching style is so positive it helps you in everything, a test, even a difficult conversation with a friend," said Jesika Pufnock, a senior in SPA who is a member of the team. "It's easier to just play when you know there aren't ramifications of losing waiting on the sideline."
Jennings said he demands dedication from his athletes in all aspects of life. Last year the AU field hockey team ranked 20th in the nation for its play, and fifth in the nation for its academic performance.
"We don't want players who are just hockey players," he said. "It's hard to find certain players who are willing to sacrifice for the team."
Jennings also played professionally in his playing career, moving to Holland to compete in one of the toughest field hockey leagues in the world. Jennings described the move as "putting all the eggs in the basket."
From that experience, he has implemented an international style that keeps the Eagles one step ahead of an imposing schedule this season.
AU began the season ranked 15th, has already beaten No. 19 University of Albany and suffered a loss to No. 12 Duke University. They still need to face their rival, the No.1 ranked Maryland, and an increasingly tough Patriot League.
"Our schedule is one of the nation's most ambitious," Jennings said. "It proposes a challenge but in my mind proposes opportunities."
Opportunity is something Jennings said he hates to miss. When he was given an assistant coaching job on this year's United States women's field hockey Olympic team, he made the most of it.
The national team went 1-1-3 and failed to medal, but Jennings said he is proud of the way the team played. Despite a tough finish, Jennings and the team left Beijing with no regrets - something he couldn't say about Atlanta.
"Beijing was a cathartic experience," he said.
You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
