Shipley to Honor Coach Katie Whelan at Super Saturday
For 27 years, Katie Whelan has been a fixture of the Shipley community. A championship coach for more than 20 years, a teacher, mentor, colleague, Honorary Alum of the Class of 2023, and parent of an alum, Katie’s impact extends far beyond the field hockey field. This Super Saturday (Oct 3), Shipley is proud to honor Katie at halftime of the Field Hockey game and celebrate her lasting impact on generations of student-athletes.
Growing up in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Katie was surrounded by sports from an early age. Her parents encouraged her to try everything from gymnastics and soccer to swimming, tennis, golf, and eventually field hockey. Sports quickly became where Katie felt most comfortable, giving her an outlet for her competitive spirit while creating friendships that would last a lifetime.
One of Katie’s earliest and most influential coaches was Randy Rogers, a U.S. National Team player and Villanova All-American who recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue field hockey at a higher level.
Katie continued to excel at Archbishop Carroll High School, helping her team win a Catholic League Championship as part of a talented group of athletes going on to compete at the Division I level. She received an athletic scholarship to Providence College, where she competed in the Big East Conference.
After college, Katie knew she wasn’t ready to leave field hockey behind. Her sister, current athletic trainer Kim Whelan, told her about an opening for an assistant field hockey coach. Katie joined Shipley’s program in 1998 under Head Coach Michelle Then, a former University of North Carolina player. In 1999, Katie stepped into the head coaching role and became a full-time Lower School Physical Education teacher. Nearly three decades later, Shipley has become far more than simply the place where Katie works; Shipley has become her family.
Katie’s coaching philosophy has always been centered on effort, hard work, teamwork, and playing for one another. That dedication led to one of the most successful stretches in Shipley Field Hockey history. During Katie’s tenure, the Gators won six Friends Schools League Championships, including four consecutive titles, and went undefeated for two seasons - 30-0-1. Katie coached countless All-League selections, with numerous athletes continuing their athletic careers at schools including Richmond, Ohio State, Amherst, Skidmore, Franklin & Marshall, Union, Kent State, Temple, Trinity, Albright, and many more. She was recognized as Main Line Coach of the Year and earned over 200 Shipley career wins.
For Katie, however, the relationships and growth of her players have always meant more than championships. Watching young athletes develop into confident, strong women remains one of the greatest privileges of her career.
In 2016, Katie stepped down as Varsity Head Coach to spend more time with her son, Shipley lifer Colin ’23, and her family, but she never stepped away from the program she helped build. She continued as a Varsity Assistant Field Hockey Coach for many years and remains involved as Head Middle School Field Hockey Coach alongside her former player, Avery Safford Strickler ’12, a fitting full-circle reflection of the relationships she has built through the sport. Katie continues to train athletes and run Shipley camps and clinics privately.
Throughout her career, Katie has remained grateful to her parents and family for their sacrifices and for teaching her to give 100 percent, persevere through challenges, and always lead with respect, kindness, and positivity. She is also grateful to Shipley for supporting her professional growth. Katie remains one of Shipley Field Hockey’s biggest fans and is excited to see where new Shipley Head Coach and former U.S. Olympian Stefanie Fee leads the program in the years ahead. Katie remains close with many of her former players, even continuing to compete alongside Shipley alumni in adult field hockey leagues at Merion Cricket Club, where they won a championship together.
As she begins her 28th year at Shipley, Katie’s legacy can be seen not only in championships and victories, but in the generations of students and athletes she has taught, coached, mentored, and supported. For Katie, it all comes back to the community that has become family.