Now that the field hockey season is over and she has received a number of post-season honors, Delmar head coach Jodi Hollamon has had time to reflect on the season, in which her team won its ninth straight state title, and her career as a high school coach. Hollamon recently announced that she will step down as the Wildcats’ coach to watch her daughters Josie and Jordyn play the sport. While winning a championship was a goal each season, Jodi sees the players she coached as her biggest legacy.
“I think about how lucky I was to coach so many great players at Delmar, but I get to watch my kids playing in college,” Hollamon said of her decision to step down as head coach. “You enjoy impacting kids’ lives and trying to win as much as you can. The wins and losses don’t define what you get out of it.”
Shown (l to r) with Jodi Hollamon (center) following the Delmar field hockey team’s state championship win in 2020 are her nieces Olivia Bradford and Maci Bradford and daughters Josie Hollamon and Jordyn Hollamon. Star file photo
Hollamon, who started coaching when she was 21 years old, always knew she would step aside when her kids went on to the next level. Money was never the objective during her 26-year career, she did it for the love of the game.
Jodi (Byrd) Hollamon played field hockey at the University of Delaware from 1995 through 1998. She was a three-time All-American East conference selection, earned Mid-Atlantic Region honors three times, and was a second team National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American as a senior in 1998. Hollamon was named the American East Player of the Year in 1998 and was selected as the University of Delaware Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 1999.
The Pocomoke native scored 79 points in 78 games as a Blue Hen and was a two-year captain. Hollamon is also a member of the University of Delaware Hall of Fame, class of 1999. Jodi went on to earn her master’s degree in post-secondary education from Salisbury University in 1999 and taught physical education and coached field hockey for nine seasons at Parkside High School in Salisbury, leading the team to a state title in 2005.
Hollamon took over a Delmar field hockey program that had a winning tradition under former coach Linda Budd. “I was just able to build on that,” said Hollamon.
Under Coach Hollamon, the Wildcats advanced to the state finals in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015, falling to Cape Henlopen all four times including three one-goal games. In 2016, Delmar won its first title with a 3-0 win over Tower Hill, followed by a 3-2 victory over Tower Hill in the first Division II championship game in 2017, to start the nine-year state championship winning streak.
Hollamon calls the win in 2016 the most memorable of her team’s nine state titles.
“Each one is different but to see the pure joy in the kids’ faces for something they’ve worked on for so many seasons and for all the kids that had been there before. That one was the most memorable,” Hollamon said.
If the first one was the most memorable, the last one (last fall) was the hardest fought victory. While this season’s team was not as hockey talented as previous Delmar teams, it showed a whole other level of heart and determination, especially in the state semifinals and finals.
“That one will be the one I remember,” said Hollamon. “They took what they didn’t have talent wise and used their hearts.”
Hollamon will continue to teach at Delmar, but will use her free time to follow her daughters with the University of Maryland field hockey team, in addition to traveling to play. Josie is currently in New Zealand playing with the national team.
Jodi will also continue to coach the Shore Byrds field hockey team. She founded the program with her sister, Juli Byrd Bradford, who also played field hockey at the University of Delaware. The Shore Byrds started with one team that played in indoor and outdoor tournaments and has grown into outdoor teams for each age group and nine indoor teams. The teams compete in tournaments all over, winning several gold medals.
Hollamon says she learned from her players and appreciates all the memories they formed together during her time as the Wildcats’ coach.
“Thank you for so many years of memories, the positive and the negative. You taught me to be a better coach,” Hollamon said when asked what her message is to her players and former players. “I learned from one year to the next. I appreciate them teaching me, probably more than I was able to teach them.”
Hollamon is thankful for all of the assistant coaches that helped her over the years, including long time assistant coach Michelle Niblett.
“I was always lucky to have her. She not only became my assistant coach, she became my best friend through Delmar field hockey. I developed a lot of friendships through coaching,” she said.
Jodi added that all of her coaches gave their all during their time as assistant coaches. She also is grateful for the support from the community.
“We’ve always been so lucky in Delmar to have the community support,” said Hollamon. “The community support is unmatched.”
Hollamon said one of her fondest memories is the year the team won its first championship, when the stands at the University of Delaware were filled on a cold Friday night.
Jodi added that the field hockey program also received great support from the football and soccer coaches and teams, Athletic Director Chad Jones, and Odell Jones.