Coach Mimi Duran Reaches 300 Wins

November 8, 2019

November 2, 2019 marked the 300th win for Head Varsity Field Hockey Coach Mimi Duran following a 4-0 victory against Wilbraham and Monson Academy. The Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Famer boasts a record of 300-154-40.

Instead of focusing on this milestone in her coaching career, Duran exhibited her typical students-first approach and focused Saturday’s game on the seniors who were being honored for their last season with Walker’s. In her 13 years at Walker’s as a field hockey coach, Duran has concentrated on every aspect of team building and the sport of field hockey. She has taken the students white water rafting and on international trips. She has hosted them at her house, planned team meals and carved pumpkins. Next summer, she will take players to watch the Olympics in Japan. These are all the ways Duran is able to create a program that goes beyond the sport and builds a community.

This career milestone adds to Duran’s long list of accolades in her nearly 35 years of coaching. Duran was named ‘Coach of the Year’ from the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) and she was also selected to the Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame and the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame.

Walker’s, under her leadership, won the Connecticut Independent School Athletic Conference (CISAC) League and tournament titles every year from 2007-2014 and she coached her team to become the Western New England Preparatory School Field Hockey Association (WNEPSFHA) Class C Champions for four years, including the most recent three seasons in a row. Duran has taken her team to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) tournament in eight seasons, including every year since 2014.

In addition to all of this work, Duran also found time to support the community. One of the longest-running traditions in Walker’s field hockey program is the team’s annual Play4theCure event held on campus every fall. Area middle schools and youth programs participate in a one-day tournament to raise money for breast cancer. To date, the team has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the cause.

Currently, Duran has six players competing at the college level, including her daughter, Keeley Duran ’18, a sophomore at Hamilton. Lexi King ’17, who currently plays at Brown University, was selected for the AAU Junior Olympics, and was on the gold medal-winning team.

In addition to her head coach duties, Duran serves as the associate athletic director, a middle school basketball coach and a middle school advisor.

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