Temple University Athletics
Hall of Fame Spotlight: Gwen Wentz Alexander
6.5.24 | Field Hockey, General
Gwen Wentz Alexander, who will enter the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2024, is the all-time winningest head field hockey coach in Temple history with 115 wins from 1980 through 1988.
In her second season at the helm, she guided the Owls to a 1981 AIAW National Championship Runner-Up finish, ending the year ranked third in the nation.
One of only three Temple field hockey coaches to post over 100 wins, she led the Owls to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and two AIAW Championship Tournament appearances in her nine seasons at the helm, while also setting the program record for highest ranking during the 1981 season, at No. 2 in two USFHCA polls.
An amazing athlete as well, the 1973 West Chester State University graduate competed internationally as a goalkeeper during her tenure at Temple, earning spot on 1980 USA Olympic Teams (USA boycotted) and 1984 USA Olympic Team that earned a bronze medal, the highest Olympic finish by US Field Hockey.
A three sport-athlete at West Chester State University, talk about how you got started into your coaching career?
"I started coaching after college at West Chester State with Robin Cash and we won a National Championship in 1977. The next year we made it to the Finals. Then Tina Sloan Green recruited me to come to Temple. At the time she was the Owls head coach for both field hockey and women's lacrosse.
My first year I teamed up with her as an assistant for both sports and then the next year she did not want to coach field hockey anymore, so I applied for the head field hockey position and won the job."
How difficult was it to be the head coach at Temple and compete on the US National Team?
"I was a young coach when I started at West Chester and gained two years of experience there. Then I had a year under Tina as an assistant coach, before being named the head coach. So I did have a lot of experience.
I was training for the national team at that point. I had made the team in 1972. Financially, they made arrangements for us to stay with people as we toured all over the world, so all I had to do was pay for flights.
It was a challenge, time wise for sure, but it was a commitment to doing both jobs."
Talk about the Impact of the 1980 Olympic Boycott
"It was very devastating. President Carter came out and said our country would not compete in the Games. Then there was a meeting of the Olympic team captains, and they provided their input. It came out that the athletes did want to compete and did not want to cancel the Games. But obviously that did not change the decision."
Talk about Competing at 1984 Olympic Games
"I had a tremendous coach, Vonnie Gros, who was named to the All-World Team. Beth Anders and Julie Staver and I were selected to the All-World Team. We had great teammates too. We were a family because we trained so much throughout the year. It was perfect team with great coaching and great teammates."
As the Head Coach at Temple, you led the Owls to Five Postseason Appearances in Nine Years. What was the key to the Program's Success during your time at the Helm?
"I had a great background. The coaches I had worked under prepared me to be a head coach. I also had a lot of information on the competition and that proved vital to winning. In terms of recruiting, I started to attract players out of the city where many school, like UNC, Old Dominion and Penn State were not recruiting those kids. Recruiting talent from our city proved to be a big part of our success.
Then Caroline McWilliams came from Ireland and became our goal scorer (209 goals, 2nd all-time at Temple). Crystal Gibbs (84 goals, 10th all-time), another very talented scorer, followed her. So, we were able to score. I also had a good goalkeeper and sweeper, so it helped forge a great team.
The 1981 season where we made the AIAW National Championship game stands out the most to me. I am very proud of our record during my time at Temple."
Talk about serving as an Assistant Coach to Temple Hall of Fame Lacrosse Tina Sloan Greene and helping the program win Three National Championships?
"Tina was a good mentor. She taught me so many things. We had a great relationship. She split the coaching duties, and I was in charge of the defense, from the goalkeeping up to the midfield. Tina handled the attack as well as ran the game plan."
Talk about your post Temple career?
"My kids came into the picture, so I stepped away from coaching (late '80s) until they were in high school. Then I started coaching again in high school. I later had an opportunity to go to the University of Pennsylvania as an assistant coach under Val Cloud. At the time I was still teaching health and physical education at the high school level. I later was an assistant at Old Dominion before retiring a decade ago."
In her second season at the helm, she guided the Owls to a 1981 AIAW National Championship Runner-Up finish, ending the year ranked third in the nation.
One of only three Temple field hockey coaches to post over 100 wins, she led the Owls to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and two AIAW Championship Tournament appearances in her nine seasons at the helm, while also setting the program record for highest ranking during the 1981 season, at No. 2 in two USFHCA polls.
An amazing athlete as well, the 1973 West Chester State University graduate competed internationally as a goalkeeper during her tenure at Temple, earning spot on 1980 USA Olympic Teams (USA boycotted) and 1984 USA Olympic Team that earned a bronze medal, the highest Olympic finish by US Field Hockey.
A three sport-athlete at West Chester State University, talk about how you got started into your coaching career?
"I started coaching after college at West Chester State with Robin Cash and we won a National Championship in 1977. The next year we made it to the Finals. Then Tina Sloan Green recruited me to come to Temple. At the time she was the Owls head coach for both field hockey and women's lacrosse.
My first year I teamed up with her as an assistant for both sports and then the next year she did not want to coach field hockey anymore, so I applied for the head field hockey position and won the job."
How difficult was it to be the head coach at Temple and compete on the US National Team?
"I was a young coach when I started at West Chester and gained two years of experience there. Then I had a year under Tina as an assistant coach, before being named the head coach. So I did have a lot of experience.
I was training for the national team at that point. I had made the team in 1972. Financially, they made arrangements for us to stay with people as we toured all over the world, so all I had to do was pay for flights.
It was a challenge, time wise for sure, but it was a commitment to doing both jobs."
Talk about the Impact of the 1980 Olympic Boycott
"It was very devastating. President Carter came out and said our country would not compete in the Games. Then there was a meeting of the Olympic team captains, and they provided their input. It came out that the athletes did want to compete and did not want to cancel the Games. But obviously that did not change the decision."
Talk about Competing at 1984 Olympic Games
"I had a tremendous coach, Vonnie Gros, who was named to the All-World Team. Beth Anders and Julie Staver and I were selected to the All-World Team. We had great teammates too. We were a family because we trained so much throughout the year. It was perfect team with great coaching and great teammates."
As the Head Coach at Temple, you led the Owls to Five Postseason Appearances in Nine Years. What was the key to the Program's Success during your time at the Helm?
"I had a great background. The coaches I had worked under prepared me to be a head coach. I also had a lot of information on the competition and that proved vital to winning. In terms of recruiting, I started to attract players out of the city where many school, like UNC, Old Dominion and Penn State were not recruiting those kids. Recruiting talent from our city proved to be a big part of our success.
Then Caroline McWilliams came from Ireland and became our goal scorer (209 goals, 2nd all-time at Temple). Crystal Gibbs (84 goals, 10th all-time), another very talented scorer, followed her. So, we were able to score. I also had a good goalkeeper and sweeper, so it helped forge a great team.
The 1981 season where we made the AIAW National Championship game stands out the most to me. I am very proud of our record during my time at Temple."
Talk about serving as an Assistant Coach to Temple Hall of Fame Lacrosse Tina Sloan Greene and helping the program win Three National Championships?
"Tina was a good mentor. She taught me so many things. We had a great relationship. She split the coaching duties, and I was in charge of the defense, from the goalkeeping up to the midfield. Tina handled the attack as well as ran the game plan."
Talk about your post Temple career?
"My kids came into the picture, so I stepped away from coaching (late '80s) until they were in high school. Then I started coaching again in high school. I later had an opportunity to go to the University of Pennsylvania as an assistant coach under Val Cloud. At the time I was still teaching health and physical education at the high school level. I later was an assistant at Old Dominion before retiring a decade ago."
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