Trailblazer: How Betty Marquis impacted girls' sports in Warwick, Rhode Island
- WSUSA
- Apr 12
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 25
By Linda Herron
When I think about the people who influenced and shaped my life, one name comes to mind: Coach Betty Marquis. A woman of strength, humor, and fierce determination, Betty wasn’t just my high school field hockey coach—she was a trailblazer for girls in sports, especially in Warwick, Rhode Island.
I had the privilege of playing for Coach Marquis at Pilgrim High School. As an identical twin growing up in a middle-class, work-a-day family, sports became a foundation for my drive, discipline, and future success.
My First Game, My First Lesson
One of my earliest memories still makes me laugh. My sister and I showed up for our first game, and Betty put me in. Now, I had grown up playing street hockey, and I didn’t quite grasp the finer points of field hockey just yet. So, I did what I knew—dribbled the ball with both sides of the stick, and the referee immediately blew the whistle loudly. I remember looking back and seeing Betty on the sideline, just laughing. Not yelling, not frustrated—laughing.
That was Betty. She could find humor in a mistake and still teach you through it. She never embarrassed me or made me feel small. Her coaching style balanced discipline with warmth and an eye for potential that went far beyond skill.
The Evolution of a Team and a Sport
From freshman year to senior year, the sport changed right alongside us. Field hockey at Pilgrim became something special. What started as another fall activity turned into a movement. And Betty was at the helm.
In our senior year, we went undefeated and won the state championship. I’ll never forget the sight of three busloads of students from our high school pulling up to watch us play. That kind of turnout was unheard of for girls' sports back then. But Betty made us believe we were worth showing up for. And we were.
Tough Love and Full-Field Passion
I'll be the first to admit I was a bit of a hothead. Probably not the easiest kid to coach. But Betty handled me—and all of us—with firm love. She didn’t coddle, but she always cared. You could hear her from one end of the field to the other, pacing the sidelines, shouting instructions with her signature intensity.
She was all in. Every game. Every practice. And if something went wildly wrong, you could count on her to laugh. Not to make light of it—but to remind us that we could recover and were still a team.
Opening Doors No One Else Did
One of the most impactful things Betty ever did for us happened off the field. She was determined to help girls like me—girls from working families—get in front of schools and secure athletic scholarships. That didn’t happen back then, especially not for field hockey. But she made it happen.
She wrote letters, made phone calls, and believed in us when others might not have noticed us. She gave me a D1 Field Hockey opportunity I never dreamed of, which changed my life.
Our Names in Print
The Warwick Beacon covered our games every week during the season—every week! That coverage meant more than just ink on a page. It meant our hard work was being recognized. It meant our community was watching. That visibility—the celebration of our efforts—was because of Betty.
She made sure we weren’t just playing. We were being seen.
Full Circle: Coaching Beside a Legend
Years later, I had the incredible honor of coaching a season alongside Betty. Standing beside her on the sidelines, I realized how much heart she poured into every athlete. She wasn’t just building field hockey players. She was building strong, confident, driven women.
That season cemented what I had known for years: Betty Marquis was a force.
Please read below the article in which Coach Marquis leads the way to getting Pilgrim Girls Softball to play in the interscholastic league. I found it in my box of memories. It is fantastic to read this now and realize all that Betty has contributed to girls' sports in Warwick, Rhode Island.
A Lasting Legacy
Coach Marquis's legacy still lives in the hearts of every athlete she coaches. She taught us more than how to play a sport. She taught us how to show up, lead, laugh at ourselves when needed, and rise up when it mattered most.
For all the girls who didn’t yet know their power, Betty showed us the way. I will always be grateful for that.
I invite all athletes who played for Betty to contribute to this blog. There is much more to say.
With love and appreciation,
Linda Herron
Do you want to celebrate a trailblazer in women’s sports? Reach out to Women Sports USA and tell us who impacted your life.
Author, Linda Herron
D1 Field Hockey | Softball | Runner | Bodybuilder |
Author of Twins Mac & Madi Series
Finance & Business Expert
San Jose, CA
Privileged to call this woman my sister, a heart & soul bigger than anyone I've known.
Love you ❤️ sister for instilling such grace, confidence, strength in all those you impacted in their formidable years; and long after.
You've always been my hero, no surprise being the younger sister. I could have only hoped to impact folks in the manner you have. Grateful hardly covers my love for you & the many blessings you've bestowed upon me as my "big sister" mad respect for you. So many things could be said about the person you are; this however would become a novel. You are always 💯 percent in for everyone in your life.
Xo 🤗 Deb
Thank you to Linda…