After a successful season, the Skyline Girls Field Hockey team returned to the turf with new changes. In August, Shelby Fulkerson started as head coach after the retirement of Nikki Barrett, Skyline science teacher and previous head coach from 2011-2023.
Fulkerson was excited to become a part of the team, as she grew up in Ann Arbor. “I like it, [there are] a lot of challenges and new things,” she says. “I like coaching and trying to teach the kids how to apply the tactics we use in sports to everyday life.”
The players have applauded Fulkerson for her coaching methods and have already noticed improvements. “She helps us with skills that translate off the field such as being a good teammate and having a strong mindset,” says Field Hockey Captain Catherine Howard (‘25). “Overall, Coach Shelby is a strong coach who leads with passion. She has high expectations and is always pushing us to be our best.”
Fulkerson worked on building a strong team throughout this rebuilding year, having lost 14 graduating seniors last year. “[I want to] build a good program moving forward, so we can get back to winning a state championship,” said Fulkerson. “I don’t feel like my coaching job is to just win games, it’s [also] to help [the players] themselves and their future lives.”
Fulkerson has lots of past experience with field hockey; this isn’t even her first time coaching for the Eagles. “I coached at Skyline with Nicky Barrett [when] we won the Girls State Championship at Saline,” said Fulkerson. “I played as a kid through Rec and Ed, moved to [play at] Ann Arbor Huron, then on to play at Central Michigan [in college].”
While the players are still adjusting to the different coaching styles she is bringing to the team, they expect good outcomes. “I think some of her methods are very useful and the amount of progress we have made is incredible,” said player Molly Jenkins (‘27). “She’s really putting in the effort to get our team to success.”
