Gailen Jette, Vermont – 1997
Gailen has had extensive involvement in WomanSport. In addition to her work as a physical education teacher, she has been head coach of field hockey and tennis for thirty-three years (1964-1997). She has served as chairwoman of the National Girls and Women in Sport Day, 1994 and 1995; on the Vermont Headmasters’ Committee on Women in Sport; an instructor at the Middlebury College Snow Bowl Ski School, 1966-1997; and has supervised the Middlebury Recreation Department field hockey instructional program for girls in grades 4, 5, and 6. During the summer, Gailen is a tennis player and is the captain of the United States Tennis Association adult and senior 4.0 women’s tennis team.
Professional and community committee work has included service in the Ilsley Library Board; membership in the Vermont Field Hockey Coaches Association, in the Vermont Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, in the United States Tennis Association, and the United States Field Hockey Association.
Her field hockey teams have amassed a lifetime record of 332=64=69. Field hockey teams coached by Gailen have earned tournament berths since 1971: they were the Vermont State Division I Field Hockey Champions in 1971, 1972, 1976, 1979, 1987, 1988, and 1996 and state runners-up in 1970, 1974, 1975, 1982, 1983, and 1995. Her tennis teams were Division I Champions in 1976, 1993, 1995, and 1996. They have earned 13 trips to the final game in tournament play, won seven championships and 6 runners-up.
Gailen has been designated the Division I Field Hockey Coach of the Year in 1979, 1987, and 1996. She received the Outstanding Service Award from the Vermont Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance in 1984; was listed in the December 2, 1996, issue of Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd.” The Scoreboard and Jette Hockey Field were dedicated in her honor in 1995.