Sam Testa is eager to make her mark as a coach for a North Haven field hockey program that’s energized and ready to have a solid season in 2022. Sam is joining the Nighthawks with a wealth of playing experience and plenty of knowledge from studying the game as she works toward becoming a physical education teacher. Sam will serve as assistant coach with North Haven’s varsity field hockey team and the head coach of the Nighthawks’ JV squad this fall.

Sam, a Wallingford resident, graduated from Amity High School in 2013 after participating in field hockey, basketball, softball, and track and field for the Spartans. Sam’s experience as a high school athlete inspired her to pursue a career in something that she loves as a teacher. Sam initially started playing field hockey as a way to improve her skills in other sports, but the experience ultimately led her down a different road into the world of coaching.

“It’s inspired me to become a coach. It’s allowed me to further my career path,” says Sam. “I actually started field hockey because I wanted to condition for the other sports I was playing. Little did I know it was going to be what I fell in love with.”

In her senior year, Sam was a recipient of the Amity Block A Albert J. Seymour Memorial Award. She also suited up for the Connecticut Revolution and HTC Field Hockey Club. Sam had to navigate her way to finding the best methods of learning and playing field hockey. Sam’s ability to learn the sport from scratch has her well-equipped to support the field hockey program at North Haven.

“Coming in and learning the game, I can relate to the girls, especially learning the game from the ground up. I can put myself in their shoes and relate to the fact that I’ve been there,” Sam says. “I’ve had similar experiences and can break things down, so they understand on their level.”

Sam brings some experience as a field hockey coach at Hopkins and Hamden Hall to the Nighthawks. Sam’s experience of playing field hockey at Amity, which competes with North Haven in the SCC, gives her some familiarity with the conference and has her ready to lead the team through its competitions this year.

“Heading into North Haven, I’m very familiar with the SCC. I’m very familiar with the type of program that I’m heading into,” Sam says. “I started off in a similar program in the conference. I can relate to the girls, having started in a similar program and being able to walk them through the beginning stages all the way through bringing my own style and experiences to help them better become successful in the sport.”

The Nighthawks’ community is excited about Sam’s arrival in North Haven. Athletic Director Steve Blumenthal is looking forward to watching Sam bring her vast knowledge of the sport to the field hockey squad.

“We are very excited to have Sam Testa joining the North Haven High School field hockey program. Sam brings knowledge and experience to North Haven field hockey,” says Blumenthal. “Sam’s passion and familiarity with coaching similar programs will serve her well as she begins her tenure at North Haven.”

One of Sam’s main goals in her coaching role is to help the North Haven field hockey team travel a path to success. There is room for improvement after the team finished with a record of 4-9-2-1 last season. Sam wants to form relationships with players on both the varsity and JV teams as the Nighthawks strive for better results.

“This is my first year, so I’d definitely say establishing some new relationships with the girls and building some strong connections,” Sam says of her goals. “I hope that my personal experiences help them to not only become better field hockey players, but also better individuals on and off of the field. I want to bring my taste of what field hockey is to North Haven.”

Sam plans to emphasize teamwork as she enters her new endeavor. By working with both the varsity and JV players, Sam will get an opportunity to bring the program closer together on all levels in tandem with Head Coach Kim Bouffard. Sam will be stressing the importance of hustle and giving your best effort in every circumstance to North Haven’s athletes. As a young coach, Sam feels that she is going to bring a comforting voice to the Nighthawks’ huddle.

“It’s definitely something that’s relatable to a lot of the girls. I graduated in 2013,” says Sam. “That young and upbeat personality is definitely something I think they relate to and feel comfortable with. The fact that I’m not that far away from the game is super important.”

Sam has many factors working in her favor as she begins her tenure with North Haven field hockey. She’s already building bonds with her players and Coach Bouffard. Sam feels excited about seeing the progression of the program go hand-in-hand with her own growth as she pursues her dreams of being a physical education teacher.

“Coach Bouffard is wonderful. She’s definitely a great resource. She’s got a lot of knowledge, and I think we feed off of each other well,” Sam says. “I’m heading into the final chapter of my teaching career. I’m definitely looking forward to getting more experience in high school athletes and working on building those relationships and leadership skills.”