Rowan University retired lacrosse and field hockey coach Mary Marino was honored at the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Luncheon at Seton Hall on February 3.

The event marked the 22nd National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) and the 16th time the event was held for New Jersey. It is celebrated in all 50 states with community events, award ceremonies and activities honoring the achievements and encouraging participation of girls and women in sports. This year’s theme was “ALL IN.”

Marino was honored for her outstanding achievements in athletics and contributions to women’s sports. She was the lacrosse coach at Rowan University for 19 seasons (1988-97, 99-07) and compiled a 170-115 won-lost record. During her tenure, Marino guided the Profs to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament in 2006, 2002, 1999, 1995 and 1993.

Marino also served as the assistant field hockey coach at Rowan. She served as the head field hockey coach at the University from 1987 to 1997 and compiled a 101-82-11 record. Under Marino, Rowan made three appearances in the NCAA tournament and two trips to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Mid-Atlantic Tournament.

Before Rowan, Marino was an assistant field hockey coach and head lacrosse coach at Eastern Regional High School. She graduated from Beaver College in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and later earned her master’s in education at Temple University. Marino played varsity basketball, field hockey and lacrosse in college. She also was a three-year member of the U.S. lacrosse team.

For lacrosse and field hockey, Marino served on the NCAA Regional Ranking and the Region All-American Committees. In 1997, Marino was inducted into the New Jersey Chapter of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame. She is a former president of the West Jersey Women’s Lacrosse Association and vice president of the Women’s Lacrosse Club of South Jersey. In addition, she was a U.S. national lacrosse squad coach and a member of the U.S. national selection committee.

In addition to Marino, each of the NJAC institutions had one student-athlete recognized as their institution’s Outstanding Athlete as part of the event. The institutional honorees included:  Johanna Hedler, Kean University (softball); Kristin Kuhmann, Montclair State (women’s soccer/lacrosse); Lizzelle Cintron, NJCU (volleyball); Ashley Cornett, Ramapo (volleyball); Melissa Baumgartner, Richard Stockton (softball); Kerry Little, Rowan (women’s soccer); Rebecca Taylor, Rutgers-Camden (cross country/track & field); Fergie-Ross Montero, Rutgers-Newark (women’s tennis); Lee Swanson, TCNJ (swimming & diving); and Amanda Kurdyla, William Paterson (women’s soccer).