At 20 years old, Coach Don Warner had never played field hockey when his friends invited him to Canada for a weekend to play.

“I thought to myself, going to Canada sounds like a whole lot of fun. So I went to Canada with some friends, picked up a stick, chased a ball.”

This past month, almost 42 years since his first time playing in Canada, he traveled up north again to play in the 2025 CanAm Indoor Series for the United States Over-50 Men’s Masters Indoor Team. The tournament took place at the University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

Warner was a member of the 12 man roster of men’s players over 50. The team played against the Canadian Men three times over the course of two days, ending the tournament with one win and two losses. 

He has previous experience with the Masters, having played for multiple U.S. indoor squads spanning different age ranges. Masters refers to players over the age of 35, spanning to players over the age of 65. 

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Warner first joined Detroit Field Hockey Club following his travels to Canada. He later moved on to the New York Islanders who he still considers himself a member of, even though he doesn’t travel up to New York much anymore. 

He has also occasionally played for the DC Dragons, an adult club based out of DC, and Jack and Jill, a coed team with members located across the country. 

“I pretty much play for anybody that will have me, got a lot of good friends out there, and we have a pretty good time hanging out.” 

When asked why he decided to start coaching, Warner was blunt, “I didn’t at first. But then I got offered a job to coach. And I thought, this would be a pretty fun way to make some money.”

And Warner has had quite the run as a coach, leading teams at various levels of play. He was the former Head Coach of St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, where he won four state titles. 

Now, he is the current Head Coach for Princess Anne’s Varsity Field Hockey team, a coach for a local field hockey club, Saints Field Hockey, and a newly appointed Assistant Coach at Plaza Middle School.

Warner also annually coaches for the United States Field Hockey Olympic Development Pathway program ‘Nexus.’ The program allows him to work with the best players across the country in all age groups. 

He also spends a week or so every summer working at the University of Connecticut alongside their coaching staff at their summer clinics and camps. 

Field hockey has opened up many traveling opportunities for him as well, having been to various parts of the world to play hockey including Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, and Venezuela. 

Warner is still able to balance his physical education teaching position at Princess Anne, coaching obligations, working out every day and occasionally some golf on the weekends. 

“I put the club to the side when the club gets in the way of teaching and coaching at PA. So I’m just trying to balance it that way and get lots of sleep.”

He smiles and says, “I haven’t had a bad experience yet!”

And Warner has had many experiences over almost half a century spent playing and loving the sport. 

When asked about his plans for the rest of the year, Warner brought up PA’s program, “I’m really excited for this summer, so we can start practicing for next fall.”

His dedication to the sport, his players, his students, and his personal well-being has allowed his career to progress over the years. Warner will continue to prioritize Princess Anne Field Hockey as the summer begins in the hope of a more successful 2025-2026 season while balancing the ongoing Spring-Summer club season, as well as college camp and USA Field Hockey coaching opportunities.