Field hockey: Webb resigns as Voorhees coach

It will be hard to imagine the Voorhees field hockey program without Taylor Webb, who has resigned as head coach after seven seasons in charge of her alma mater.

Webb, a former midfielder and considered one of the school's greatest players, recently informed the team of her decision.

"I need to take a step back and focus on my family," said Webb, whose teams went 112-31-4 overall, including a 14-6 campaign in 2017, while capturing four Skyland Conference division titles as well as a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title (2012) and a sectional championship (2016).

"It was an absolutely draining season. It was an emotional decision [to resign]."

Webb, 33, surprisingly opted to step down despite the bulk of what's expected to be a very strong team returning in '18. She resides in Clinton with her husband Chris Vidak, an outstanding wrestler and two-time state placewinner (runner-up in '93) at North Hunterdon in the early 1990s, along with their two daughters, Reagan (4) and Rhemy (2).

Voorhees athletic director Brian Baumann, who has been on the job for two years, admitted that finding Webb's successor won't be an easy task.

Voorhees celebrates after winning the HWS title in 2012.

"You're not going to replace her knowledge and love for the game ... it's a huge loss," Baumann said. "I'm disappointed because she does a great job for our program. I respect her decision, but I've got some work to do."

Voorhees, which has had just three losing seasons in its 43-year history and none since 2004, has long been one of the state's most successful and respected programs. Webb played under former coach Ann Bonavita, who built the program into a powerhouse during her 11 seasons from 1992-2002. Bonavita's final season as head coach -- she also served as Webb's assistant for a few seasons -- culminated with winning the North 2, Group 2 sectional title before dropping a tough 2-1 decision in overtime to eventual Group 2 champ West Essex in the state semifinals. Webb, who still owns the Vikes' all-time assists record (58), went on to play at the University of Iowa before transferring back home to finish her career at Rider University.

Webb became Voorhees' seventh head coach in 2011, succeeding Beth Stocker, who continued the program's winning tradition in her eight seasons from 2003-10. Under Stocker, the Vikes went 130-29-9 and captured the North 2, Group 3 title in 2006, falling 1-0 to Moorestown in the Group 3 title game -- the Hunterdon County school's second and last appearance in a state final.

Voorhees went nine seasons after that postseason loss without winning a sectional title until a 1-0 win in overtime against Hackettstown secured the North 2, Group 2 championship in what would be Webb's second-to-last season.

A major bone of contention for Webb during her coaching career has been having to play home games on grass in a sport meant to be played on artificial turf. It's clearly held back the program on the state level during this age where the majority if not all of the top programs play on turf. The last school to win a state championship playing its regular-season home games on grass was Freehold Borough in 2011.

"If you're a state-caliber team, you have to play on turf," said Webb, who guided the Vikes to three sectional finals and ranks third on the program's career wins list behind Bonavita and Stocker. "We would [finish with more penalty corners] and lose. You have to be able to get consistent plays on corners. If you want to win a state championship, you can't play on grass. It was a big setback. It hindered our team."

Voorhees, which made nine sectional final and five state semifinals appearances in 11 seasons under Bonavita, has been to just eight sectional finals in the 15 seasons since her retirement. But you also have to consider the game has changed significantly since moving away from grass fields.

Another example is nemesis Warren Hills, which has made seven state finals appearances while winning back-to-back Group 3 titles in 2014 and '15 since moving from grass to turf in 2009. Voorhees is 9-11-1 vs. the Blue Streaks during that span (6-10 under Webb).

Webb, who has lobbied to get turf for several years, said she approached Baumann before this past season with a proposal to practice and play games during evening hours on North Hunterdon's turf field. However, Webb said she was flatly rejected.

"They wouldn't even entertain it," Webb said. "The overall lack of understanding for requesting it was frustrating. It was taken as a lack of pride, which is the complete opposite to anyone who knows me. I'm trying to keep these kids at the top. The biggest criticism was that all I care about is winning. My job is to open doors through the sport of hockey. I teach life lessons. Winning state championships opens doors. Playing on turf all year is creating well-rounded student-athletes."

Baumann said North Hunterdon has graciously shared its facility with sister school Voorhees, but it's the Lions' primary field. When Voorhees' football field was out of service in 2008, the Vikes played all of their home games at North's Singley Field.

"We've used it for state games and have practiced on it. It's unfortunate we don't have it," Baumann said of turf. "I'm going to try to get it eventually, but it's going to be what the community wants. We're going to need some outside help."

Webb said the workers who take care of Voorhees' grass field -- which still has divots, bare spots and other issues under the best circumstances -- did the best they could do with limited resources.

"They are dedicated people," she said. "They know the program we're trying to maintain and elevate."

Baumann said the search for a new coach begins immediately, but the process is a bit complicated by the unknown of any potential teaching positions to offer prospective candidates. Those openings tend to come later in the school year. Webb was not employed as a teacher.

"It's a great program and we have tremendous parent and booster support," Baumann said. "We have a lot of young talent and a great group of girls."

Webb, who also is stepping away from her club obligations in the offseason, is not ruling out a return to coaching in the future should the right opportunity arise.

"The passion isn't gone," she said.