Pioneer field hockey coach Jane Nixon, Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz in hospital after scooter accident
Jane Nixon, a special education teacher and field hockey coach at Pioneer High School, is in stable condition in the intensive care unit at the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center after suffering injuries Wednesday in a scooter accident in Ann Arbor.
Pioneer High School field hockey coach and teacher Jane Nixon. (Photo: File photo)
Pankratz also was admitted to UM Hospital.
A page for Nixon on the Michigan Health System CarePages has a note from John and Joan Nixon and includes, “The family appreciates your support and prayers and asks that you please give them their privacy. Please no visitors at this time.”
Nixon has coached at Pioneer for the past 12 seasons, and the Pioneers defeated Huron for a state championship on Oct. 31Â - the programs 21st overall and fifth straight. Nixon played college field hockey at Michigan, earning second team All-Big Ten honors in 1986.
Pankratz is credited with turning Michigan field hockey into one of the elite programs in the country.
She returned to lead the team in January after a hiatus from coaching. She was previously the head coach of the Wolverines from 1996 to 2004, winning a 2001 NCAA title - the first by a women’s team in the history of Michigan athletics.
Before coaching at Michigan, Pankratz played for the U.S. National team at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. She spent nine years with U.S. Field Hockey team (1985-90, 1994-96), playing in 110 international matches.
Comments
Andrea
Mon, Nov 23, 2009 : 8:38 p.m.
My thought and prayers are with you. Recover fast! You helped me so much in high school I couldn't have done it without you believing in me. Andrea Pollack (Hoffman)
paw1
Sat, Nov 21, 2009 : 1:54 p.m.
Jane, you coached my twin girls for many years. You menitored them for many years and you are still the first woman they looked up too.Jane you hepled shape them into the wonderful, successful women they are today. You became a good friend to me, a struggling single mom!!I will pray P4-13!! YOU HAVE TOUCHED THOUSANDS OF OUR CHILDREN'S LIFES AND I KNOW YOUR NOT DONE, SO BLESSED BE AND RETURN TO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO YOU CAN CONTINUE YOUR VERY IMPORTANT WORK! LOVE THE DOAN'S
Denise Heberle
Sat, Nov 21, 2009 : 10:36 a.m.
Jane coached two of my favorite girls in the world and helped them be the strong, confident young women they are today. I know from their moms what a great woman she is and hope for a speedy and total reovery. We need more women coaching sports, especially women's sports, and Pioneer is so lucky to have Jane.
Dr. I. Emsayin
Sat, Nov 21, 2009 : 10:25 a.m.
Ms. Nixon is a beautiful person on every level. Wishing her continued and full recovery (and that annarbor.com can come up with a better photo).
kdelval
Sat, Nov 21, 2009 : 4:39 a.m.
Hey Jane, how unfortunate to "reconnect" this way - but we are all wishing you a speedy recovery!
rrt911
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 6:18 p.m.
Jane was my daughter's coach at PHS and a great gal. I'm feeling her pain while I ecover from a motorcycle accideny...I hope you do well Jane-you have the right frame of mind to conquer this! Jacqueline Justice's Mom
Tim Wild
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 5:38 p.m.
Ouch. Jane, I've seen better ways to catch up with old classmates. You should try Facebook - a lot less drama than the emergency room and news articles. Then again, you always were one to outdo the rest of us. Get well soon, ~Tim
Wolverine3660
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 5:11 p.m.
Both are good people. I hope both Jane and Marcia recover fully.
Jim Edwards
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 4:19 p.m.
Jane If you read this.. we hope a speedy recover to you!!!! Love from your pals at Greenhills. Jim
DagnyJ
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 2:49 p.m.
Jane has been one of powerful forces behind the vibrant field hockey community in Ann Arbor. Our thoughts are with her and her family and we're praying for quick recovery.
townie2
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 2:38 p.m.
We are all pulling for Jane to get better. Everyone should send good thoughts and good energy to Jane and her family. Jane, know that your friends love you and are here to support you always.
A2Townie
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 2:01 p.m.
Can it be noted that Jane has been the *head coach* for Pioneer for the last 12 years? She was an assistant coach at Pioneer for many years leading up to that, and I'm sure a little research would yield a total number of years of service. Jane is an inspirational, hard-working, funny woman, and she deserves credit for all of her work at Pioneer.
annarbor
Fri, Nov 20, 2009 : 1:40 p.m.
Wishing them both a speedy recovery-