Sharon Pfluger
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | TCNJ |
| Conference | NJAC |
| Record | 603–84–1 (lacrosse) 685–148–9 (field hockey) |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | November 16, 1960 Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Trenton State College (B.S., 1982) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Field hockey | |
| 1982 | Drew (assistant) |
| 1983 | Kean |
| 1984 | Montclair State |
| 1985–present | Trenton State/TCNJ |
| Lacrosse | |
| 1984 | Drew (assistant) |
| 1986–present | Trenton State/TCNJ |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 603–84–1 (.808) (lacrosse) 694–167–13 (.801) (field hockey) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Field Hockey 9 NCAA Division III (1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2011, 2014) 25x NJAC Tournament (1985–1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006–2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019) Lacrosse 11* NCAA Division III (1987, 1988, 1991–1996, 2000, 2005, 2006) 15x NJAC Tournament (2009, 2011–2019, 2021–2025) | |
| Records | |
| Most wins in women's college lacrosse (603) | |
| U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inducted in 2007 | |
Sharon Pfluger (née Goldbrenner; born November 16, 1960) is an American women's college lacrosse and field hockey coach for The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). With 603 wins, Pfluger is the NCAA career wins leader of women's lacrosse, and her 694 field hockey wins is the third-highest total of all time among NCAA field hockey coaches.[1][2] She has amassed 19[a] Division III National Championships between the two sports. Before becoming the head coach for TCNJ, she was an assistant for both sports at Drew University, and the head field hockey coach for Kean University and Montclair State University.
Early life
Raised in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey,[3] she attended Pompton Lakes High School, where she competed in basketball, field hockey and softball.[4]
Pfluger was a member of the 1981 Trenton State College field hockey team that won the inaugural NCAA Division III field hockey tournament.[5] She graduated from Trenton State with a Bachelor of Science in 1982, majoring in health and physical education.[6]
Coaching career
Pfluger started her coaching career in 1982 at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, assisting with field hockey. She then became the head field hockey coach at Kean in 1983, leading the school to a 4–8–3 record. In 1984, she became the head at Montclair State and led the field hockey team to a 5–11–1. That same year she would return to Drew to assist with the lacrosse.[6]
In 1985 she returned to her alma mater, The College of New Jersey, then known as Trenton State College, to coach the field hockey team. The next year she was assigned to coach the lacrosse team as well. Under her lead, TCNJ has consistently been one of the best Division III programs for both lacrosse and field hockey. She has won the NCAA Division III women's lacrosse national championship 11 times with one being vacated, (1987, 1988, 1991, 1992*, 1993–1996, 2000, 2005, 2006).[7] She has won the NCAA Division III field hockey national championship nine times, (1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2011, 2014).
In 2007, she was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
In the Fall of 2022, Pfluger became the first coach in NCAA history to reach 1,200 career victories while coaching two different sports.[6]
On April 23, 2025, she became the first women's lacrosse coach to reach 600 career wins [8]
Head coaching record
Lacrosse
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton State/TCNJ Lions (NJAC) (1986–present) | |||||||||
| 1986 | Trenton State | 13–3–1 | NCAA Division III runner-up | ||||||
| 1987 | Trenton State | 16–2 | NCAA Division III champion | ||||||
| 1988 | Trenton State | 17–2 | NCAA Division III champion | ||||||
| 1989 | Trenton State | 17–1 | NCAA Division III runner-up | ||||||
| 1990 | Trenton State | 12–3 | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||||
| 1991 | Trenton State | 16–1 | NCAA Division III champion | ||||||
| 1992 | Trenton State | 16–0 | NCAA Division III champion[b] | ||||||
| 1993 | Trenton State | 15–0 | NCAA Division III champion | ||||||
| 1994 | Trenton State | 15–0 | NCAA Division III champion | ||||||
| 1995 | Trenton State | 17–0 | NCAA Division III champion | ||||||
| 1996 | TCNJ | 14–0 | NCAA Division III champion | ||||||
| 1997 | TCNJ | 14–1 | NCAA Division III runner-up | ||||||
| 1999 | TCNJ | 14–1 | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||||
| 2000 | TCNJ | 17–0 | NCAA Division III champion | ||||||
| 2001 | TCNJ | 12–2 | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||||
| 2002 | TCNJ | 17–1 | NCAA Division III runner-up | ||||||
| 2003 | TCNJ | 15–1 | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||||
| 2004 | TCNJ | 18–1 | NCAA Division III runner-up | ||||||
| 2005 | TCNJ | 16–2 | NCAA Division III champion | ||||||
| 2006 | TCNJ | 15–2 | NCAA Division III champion | ||||||
| 2007 | TCNJ | 12–3 | NCAA Division III quarterfinals | ||||||
| 2008 | TCNJ | 17–2 | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||||
| 2009 | TCNJ | 16–3 | 5–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III quarterfinals | ||||
| 2010 | TCNJ | 16–4 | 4–1 | 2nd | NCAA Division III quarterfinals | ||||
| 2011 | TCNJ | 20–1 | 5–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||
| 2012 | TCNJ | 16–4 | 5–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III quarterfinals | ||||
| 2013 | TCNJ | 15–5 | 5–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III quarterfinals | ||||
| 2014 | TCNJ | 19–2 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III quarterfinals | ||||
| 2015 | TCNJ | 18–4 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III quarterfinals | ||||
| 2016 | TCNJ | 20–2 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III regional | ||||
| 2017 | TCNJ | 19–2 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III runner-up | ||||
| 2018 | TCNJ | 20–3 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||
| 2019 | TCNJ | 14–6 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III regional | ||||
| 2020 | TCNJ | 4–0 | Season ended due to COVID-19 | ||||||
| 2021 | TCNJ | 9–3 | 3–1 | 2nd | NCAA Division III quarterfinals | ||||
| 2022 | TCNJ | 18–3 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||
| 2023 | TCNJ | 16–4 | 5–0 | T-2nd | NCAA Division III third round | ||||
| 2024 | TCNJ | 14–5 | 5–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III second round | ||||
| 2025 | TCNJ | 14–5 | 5–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III second round | ||||
| Trenton State/TCNJ: | 603–84–1 (.877) | 86–2 (.977) |
| ||||||
| Total: | 603–84–1 (.877) | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
Field hockey
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kean Cougars (NJSAC) (1983) | |||||||||
| 1983 | Kean | 4–8–3 | |||||||
| Kean: | 4–8–3 (.367) | ||||||||
| Montclair State Indians (NJSAC) (1984) | |||||||||
| 1984 | Montclair State | 5–11–1 | |||||||
| Montclair State: | 5–11–1 (.324) | ||||||||
| Trenton State/TCNJ Lions (NJAC) (1985–present) | |||||||||
| 1985 | Trenton State | 22–3 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III champion | ||||
| 1986 | Trenton State | 24–3 | 7–1 | 1st | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||
| 1987 | Trenton State | 18–4 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III tournament | ||||
| 1988 | Trenton State | 21–0–2 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III champion | ||||
| 1989 | Trenton State | 21–1 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III runner-up | ||||
| 1990 | Trenton State | 18–0–1 | 7–0–1 | 1st | NCAA Division III champion | ||||
| 1991 | Trenton State | 19–0–1 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III champion | ||||
| 1992 | Trenton State | 18–2 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III runner-up | ||||
| 1993 | Trenton State | 18–1–1 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||
| 1994 | Trenton State | 19–1 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III runner-up | ||||
| 1995 | Trenton State | 20–0 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III champion | ||||
| 1996 | TCNJ | 21–1 | 7–1 | 1st | NCAA Division III champion | ||||
| 1997 | TCNJ | 16–3 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III regional | ||||
| 1998 | TCNJ | 14–4 | 6–2 | 3rd | NCAA Division III regional | ||||
| 1999 | TCNJ | 20–0 | 8–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III champion | ||||
| 2000 | TCNJ | 13–4 | 3–1 | 2nd | NCAA Division III regional | ||||
| 2001 | TCNJ | 13–4 | 3–1 | T-1st | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||
| 2002 | TCNJ | 13–3 | 3–1 | 2nd | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||
| 2003 | TCNJ | 17–3 | 3–2 | 3rd | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||
| 2004 | TCNJ | 14–6 | 5–1 | 1st | NCAA Division III regional | ||||
| 2005 | TCNJ | 15–5 | 4–2 | T-2nd | NCAA Division III second round | ||||
| 2006 | TCNJ | 17–3 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III regional | ||||
| 2007 | TCNJ | 17–3 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III regional | ||||
| 2008 | TCNJ | 16–3 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III quarterfinals | ||||
| 2009 | TCNJ | 9–6 | 5–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 2010 | TCNJ | 17–5 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III second round | ||||
| 2011 | TCNJ | 24–2 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III champion | ||||
| 2012 | TCNJ | 15–5 | 4–2 | T-2nd | |||||
| 2013 | TCNJ | 16–4 | 5–1 | T-1st | |||||
| 2014 | TCNJ | 23–1 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III champion | ||||
| 2015 | TCNJ | 20–2 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||
| 2016 | TCNJ | 16–4 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III second round | ||||
| 2017 | TCNJ | 17–4 | 5–1 | T-1st | NCAA Division III semifinals | ||||
| 2018 | TCNJ | 16–5 | 4–2 | 3rd | NCAA Division III regional | ||||
| 2019 | TCNJ | 18–1 | 6–0 | 1st | NCAA Division III second round | ||||
| 2020 | TCNJ | Season canceled due to COVID-19 | |||||||
| 2021 | TCNJ | 11–5 | 3–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 2022 | TCNJ | 13–7 | 5–1 | 2nd | NCAA Division III second round | ||||
| 2023 | TCNJ | 11–8 | 3–2 | T-2nd | |||||
| 2024 | TCNJ | 13–7 | 5–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 2025 | TCNJ | 13–6 | 5–1 | 2nd | |||||
| Trenton State/TCNJ: | 685–148–9 (.819) | 235–26–1 (.899) |
| ||||||
| Total: | 694–167–13 (.801) | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
See also
- List of college women's lacrosse career coaching wins leaders
- List of college field hockey career coaching wins leaders
Notes
References
- ^ "NCAA Women'S Lacrosse Coaching Records Entering 2026" (PDF). Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ^ "Field Hockey Coaching Records Entering 2024" (PDF). Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ^ "Sparrow picks FDU", The Record, September 3, 1981. Accessed February 11, 2026. "Senior defensive player Sharon Goldbrenner of Pompton Lakes is one of nine veterans on the Trenton State field hockey team this fall."
- ^ Fox, Ron. "Trenton State coach aims high", The Record, August 26, 1985. Accessed February 11, 2026, via Newspapers.com. "But consider Sharon Goldbrenner's approach to the potential stumbling block. Goldbrenner, who was a four-sport Pompton Lakes High School and a superstar in both field hockey and lacrosse at College, served as head coach at Montclair State last year and now has replaced her former coach, Melissa Magee, in field hockey and lacrosse at TSC.... She starred in field hockey, basketball, and softball at Pompton Lakes High School and ran one season of track just to break the monotony."
- ^ "Two-sport Coach Sharon Pfluger '82 makes NCAA history with 1,000 wins". news.tcnj.edu. October 1, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Sharon Pfluger". tcnjathletics.com. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ^ "Division III Women's Lacrosse Championships Records Book" (PDF). Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ^ "Pfluger Gets Win No. 600, Lacrosse Tops Stockton in Road Finale". Retrieved February 9, 2026.