LJ FH: Atmosphere change

Viking Reese Martin (1 red, far left) watches a pass

between Lola Conway (1 white, rear, facing camera)

and Bishop's teammate Natalie Marvin (4)

in the second quarter Wed., Sept. 25.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The atmosphere in the neighborhood has changed a little.

With former La Jolla High coach Paula Conway now stepping back into a coaching role at crosstown Bishop's, the balance of power in the seaside town--and in the Western League--has changed a little.

Amanda Combs Warford continues to coach up a storm at LJHS, but with her husband, Tucker Warford, now head coach at Del Norte High (that program coming up, as well) and Conway taking over for the Knights, the Vikings' league dominance would seem to be in play this Fall.

Conway is a former assistant coach in the college programs at Georgetown, Kent State, and Boston College from 1998-2006. She also served as a head coach in the Futures Development Program and a Super Camp Instructor, under the U.S. Field Hockey Association.

The Western League is also a giant conference, with giants Canyon Hills and Scripps Ranch--long-time powerhouses in San Diego--competing for the bones, along with the Vikes and Knights.

Warford has always accepted a challenge, and it was interesting thinking about her taking her varsity team up against her former boss's Bishop's squad at the Bishop's home field Wed., Sept. 25.

What the season and future may hold will keep everyone's attention. Conway is coaching her daughter Lola, a freshman, who used to attend Vikings practices when her mom was coach of the black-and-red. She has, not one, but two coaches in the household talking field hockey at the dinner table and coaching her up.

Lola's father, Nick Conway, was sitting at the scorer's table for the LJ-Bishop's game, which the Knights won, 2-0. He was muttering audibly, "Lola, you need to..."--stuff he would say if he were the coach on the sidelines.

Twenty feet away, Nick's wife, Paula, was quietly, but not calmly or resignedly, actively coaching the team. Lola stands taller than her mom, who is pretty petite.

According to info from Paula's high school's website, which recorded her Athletic Hall of Fame induction two years ago, Nick won three national titles coaching the women's team at the University of North Carolina. He also served as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team for six years. That's a lot of experience in one household.