Port schools’ athletic director inducted into Nassau Hall of Fame

The Island Now
Stephanie Joannon. (Courtesy of the PWSD)

The Port Washington School District is proud to announce that the Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, Stephanie Joannon, was recently inducted into the Nassau County Athletics Hall of Fame. Throughout her tenure in the district, Joannon has been recognized for her consistent accomplishments, commitment as a coach and administrator, and her dedication to the students of Port Washington.

“Stephanie Joannon has been a devoted educator and coach in the Port Washington School District, setting an exceptional example and providing outstanding direction to our students on and off the field,” said Superintendent Kathleen Mooney. “The district is excited to honor Stephanie for all of her accomplishments and give her the recognition she deserves.”

As a coach of three sports: girls’ soccer, girls’ basketball and softball, Joannon has had a lasting impact on hundreds of young female athletes in the district. In 1979, Joannon introduced the girls’ varsity soccer program and served as the coach for 28 years as she led the girls through 289 victories and four conference championships. As a testament to her passion for coaching, Joannon was recognized four times as the Girls’ Soccer Conference “Coach of the Year.” Under Joannon’s coaching, the girls’ soccer teams earned the Nassau County Sportsmanship Award on four different occasions.

As the girls’ basketball coach for 28 years, Joannon guided her teams to the Nassau County playoffs every year. Her teams also earned four conference titles. With over 300 victories — she has a career record of 326-180 — Joannon is the first female Nassau County basketball coach to achieve this accomplishment.

As the girls’ varsity softball coach for 21 years, Joannon held a coaching record of 204-136. Her devoted and ardent coaching techniques led the Vikings to two conference titles. Her consistent passion for the game earned her recognition as “Conference Softball Coach of the Year” on four instances.

As an administrator, Joannon has been a remarkable asset to the Port Washington School District. Since 2008, she has held the position of director of health, physical education and athletics for the district. In 2014, she was named “Physical Education Director of the Year” by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

“I’ve felt that sports competition is a microcosm of life: it teaches you to work hard, develop time management skills, be accountable and be unselfish,” Joannon said. “Being a coach has had an extraordinary impact on my life. The most rewarding aspects of coaching are the relationships with players and the sharing of emotions that come with a varsity season. Coaching enriched my life every day and I continue to learn from those experiences as the athletic director.”

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