Meet Colleen Fink: Five Questions with Youth Inc.'s Field Hockey Ambassador
After 15 successful years leading the University of Pennsylvania's field hockey program, Colleen Fink is bringing her wealth of leadership and coaching experience to the Frederick Gunn School. Off the field, she's a proud mom of two boys and can often be found cheering them on from the sidelines on weekends.
We asked her five questions about youth sports, life lessons, and more.
1. What’s your favorite youth sports memory?
I have so many youth sports memories that have shaped how I look at sports today—some more of a combination of many memories. They range from 4th of July sack races at the local parks and rec fields to bussing to Raleigh, NC for the Junior Olympics. The Jamaican runners wore bells on their spikes so you could hear them coming! I also remember tough basketball practices with Coach Riley in the St. Matthias gym and drives to cross country practice at Belmont Plateau in Coach D'Amico's gold minivan.
2. Who has been the most influential person or coach in your life?
My father, Kevin Quinn, spent 50 years as the head track and cross country coach at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. I grew up in a sports-rich household where I often say I was rarely parented—mostly coached by my father. While his influence is immeasurable, I place him in a category all his own.
The most influential and inspirational coach that I have ever worked with is Gretta Ehret. Gretta was an incredible athlete at Penn Charter and the University of Pennsylvania who naturally transitioned into coaching and teaching. She served the Philadelphia public school system, the Philadelphia suburbs field hockey community and various schools in the area. In 2019, at a very young age, Gretta was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. True to her nature as a fighter, competitor and winner she battled this difficult diagnosis with positivity and strength. She adopted the mantra of "Dream Crazy"—a reminder to live each day with your most aspirational goals in mind. Following her diagnosis, Gretta continued to coach a collegiate field hockey team, got married, adopted a beautiful daughter and embraced life fully. She had boundless energy, compassion, and vision. It is impossible to put into works her impact on me and so many others. All I can say is Gretta didn't lose the battle with cancer, because she never lost at anything. She won, because her Dream Crazy legacy lives on in thousands of people she inspired. Gretta reminds me daily to lead with energy, passion and perspective.
