Uprooting and moving to “the sticks” hadn’t been on biology teacher and field hockey coach Megan Deroba’s To-Do list until her husband came home with the news.
Due to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) of the army base he worked at in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; they would be moving to Maryland.
Deroba was glad to leave the crowds of Central New Jersey, but “it was hard leaving my job, family, friends, and team. It’s hard changing lives,” Deroba said.
She was starting her new life, though, and moving added to the theme. “My husband and I just got married last year,” Deroba said. “[Moving] is a good start to our new life. It was exciting to buy our first house together!” As for moving to ‘the sticks,’ “I don’t find that here,” Deroba said. “There’s almost more to do here than in New Jersey – you can hike, go to parks. It’s not just [shopping] malls, like it is in New Jersey.”
Maryland has treated Deroba well, she said. “I really do like it a lot. The people are much friendlier… In Home Depot, people talked to me in line. It was just small talk, but it was nice! Back in NJ in ShopRite, people would just bang into your cart. It’s like, ‘Excuse me?’ Here, people aren’t as cutthroat.”
In New Jersey, Deroba coached at East Brunswick High School for five years. In her three years as the junior varsity coach, Deroba led her team to two victories in the division tournament and one runner-up finish.
Her varsity team earned a spot in the state playoffs both years that she coached. The second year, “It should’ve been a dream year, but we suffered heartbreaking injuries, even a broken femur,” Deroba said. “It was unreal.”
As for the JC field hockey team, “It’s hard coming in and not knowing how everyone plays. At East Brunswick, I raised the girls [from JV to Varsity].” But it’s not all bad, Deroba said. “This team has a lot of athleticism. They have more of a ‘go out and get it’ aggressiveness… Everyone’s hardworking. Whether we’re running or whatever at practice, [the girls] give it all they have. I like their intensity.”
The team is also willing to learn new drills and to pay attention to details. “They’re open-minded. It’ll pay off – they’re gonna be good,” Deroba said.
Deroba’s goal is ultimately to go to the championship game, and even though the team doesn’t have a perfect record, winning the championship is “still very attainable,” Deroba said. “We’re taking small steps in the right direction. … [The girls] are getting confidence.”
Deroba uses her experience to her advantage in coaching. She began playing field hockey in sixth grade and went on to play for a “prestigious” high school. Deroba then played Division I field hockey at Monmouth University. Deroba was a captain on both her high school and college teams.
In her DI play, Deroba proved to be the best of the best – she was chosen for the All Conference team in the Northeast conference. It was “like an all-star team,” Deroba said.
Now, Deroba is now working to make an all-star team out of JC’s varsity field hockey, while also teaching biology and starting her new life in ‘the sticks.’
Mollyann Pais can be reached for comment at [email protected]