One of the greatest attributes of any coach is being able to maintain a positive attitude no matter what the situation. For the past 17 years, Pam Edwards has been a beacon of success and positivity on the sidelines at Hopewell Valley, and sadly she has decided to step away from coaching field hockey and take a little well-deserved time for herself. “I’d like to travel a little more and I’m also getting close to retiring from teaching, so it just seemed like the right time,’’ Edwards ward. “I knew four years ago when this senior class were freshmen that it was a good group and it would be a good one to end with, and it was a great ride.’’ After spending some time coaching at Ewing, on the advice of Hopewell Valley’s legendary coach, Barb Skiba, she took a teaching job at Hopewell and the rest, they say, is history. It was also about making history as Edwards has amassed an amazing record of 276-106-19 during her time on the sidelines. The Bulldogs have several division titles, MCT championships, title games and state sectional finals under Edwards’ guidance. This year’s team was 14-6 and had a nine-game winning streak heading to the CVC Tournament semifinals. “It was a team that supported each other and were always positive,’’ said Edwards. The longtime coach didn’t want this season to be about her and she didn’t announce her retirement until after the final game of the season. “The last game was emotional, especially since I didn’t tell the kids before the season,’’ Edwards said. “When we got together, I told them this would be the last field hockey game I’d be coaching. I let them know how happy I was to have  experienced this year with them. They were a group of amazing strong women and the best, it was a great ending.’’ Now in her 33rd year of teaching and coaching at Hopewell Valley, she credits two great mentors, Skiba and The College of New Jersey coach Sharon Pfluger. “It has been a passion for me and I’m grateful for Sharon Pfluger, who I learned a lot from and I tried to bring a lot of what she taught as far as life lessons and trying to get everyone to achieve the best they can as people as well as student athletes,” Edwards said. “It’s been something that helped me as a young person, and it has been great to give back. I’ve been so fortunate.’’ Teaching and coaching has really been a labor of love for Edwards since her days as a student and player at then Trenton State College. “I coach day-to-day and I never really looked at my own stats,’’ Edwards said. “When I’m on the field with the girls I love it. It has been a great experience at Hopewell Valley. I’ve been blessed with so many great assistants and great kids. Hopewell is a great place and I have been so fortunate to be teaching and coaching there this long.’’ Coaching long and staying positive every day and teaching by example with her words of encouragement. “You have to have passion, patience and be willing to work with young people and help them learn that mistakes are a part of life,’’ Edwards said. “But you can get better from mistakes. For me, coaching was a chance to give back to something that was so good to me.’’ Edwards has given so much to her students, her players and Hopewell Valley, and she will be missed.