The field hockey field at Stissing Mountain was renamed Meilinger Field on Sunday, Oct. 11, in honor of Richard “Dick” Meilinger, the longtime coach who led the Pine Plains program to hundreds of victories and helped shape generations of young athletes.
About 100 people attended the dedication, which followed an alumni game. Former players, colleagues, and family members gathered under umbrellas on the rainy afternoon as coach Cathy Gomm presented Meilinger, 79, with a plaque recognizing his contributions to the sport and the school.
Meilinger began coaching in 1985. During 26 seasons as head coach, his teams compiled 324 victories, won 15 league championships, nine sectional titles, and three state regional championships. He continued volunteering with the program through 2016.
For the dedication, Meilinger wore a familiar piece of coaching attire: an off-white bucket hat bearing a field hockey logo, a gift from former player Leti Freaney nearly 30 years ago. He said he had worn the hat to every game since.
As he tearfully accepted the honor, Meilinger recalled the chant his players used to keep themselves going when he made them run sprints during practice.
“They had a little chant to keep themselves going, ‘I hate that guy, I hate that guy,’” he said, as the crowd cheered him on. “I took it as a sign of affection. I’m still taking it that way.”
Carrie Williams, a former player, said a good coach consistently shows up for athletes, creates a safe environment, and brings humor and enjoyment to the game while holding players accountable.
“It’s someone who makes athletes work hard, take accountability,” Williams said. “Thank you for always pushing us when we didn’t think we could go any further.”
Carl Baden and his wife, Amy Benack-Baden, who attended middle school in the 1980s, remembered Meilinger from gym class.
“One of the best coaches we’ve ever had,” Baden said. “I wasn’t into sports too much but he made it lots of fun.”
Meilinger’s daughter, Melissa “Missy” Meilinger, also addressed the gathering, reflecting on her father’s contributions to girls’ athletics and the opportunities that expanded after the passage of Title IX in 1972, which prohibited sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs.
“For the first time, the law said girls had to be given an equal opportunity to play sports. Let that sink in,” Melissa said. “It really wasn’t all that long ago that most girls never got a chance to play at all. And look where we are now. I like to think that today’s women athletes, standing on the shoulders of my generation, were lifted up by people like my dad.”
Meilinger’s influence extended beyond Pine Plains. In 2005, he joined Nanette Simione, a field hockey coach in the Rondout Valley Central School District in Ulster County, to establish the Cross River Combo, a club that initially brought together players from Pine Plains and Rondout Valley, two programs accustomed to competing against each other.
Simione described Meilinger as a “true icon,” praising his ability to challenge players while making them feel supported.
Shuchi Shah / The New Pine Plains Herald
“He understands the value of hard work, he knew how to motivate and push his players, he would lead with compassion and empathy, and use this incredible wit that he had, at the best times, to lighten the mood,” Simione said. “I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to coach against and with him.”
That influence continues through former players who have become coaches themselves.
Sara Knickerbocker, who played for Meilinger, is now an assistant field hockey coach at SUNY New Paltz. She also took over as director of the Cross River Combo in 2016. Knickerbocker said she continues to pass along Meilinger’s lessons to her own players, particularly his emphasis on making the game enjoyable.
Reflecting on his decades of coaching, Meilinger said those relationships and lessons had stayed with him.
“I learned to be patient, have fun, and listen to the kids, even though I don’t listen very well anymore.”