Pioneer Cross Country and Track and Field coach Mary Doud has been named the 2023 recipient of the Athletic Director's Key Award.
Mrs. Doud, who is retiring this year as both a coach and Physical Education teacher. at Pioneer High School, has been coaching and teaching at Pioneer since 1987.
Few people are more acknowledged and respected in the Western New York Track and Field world than Mrs. Doud. Attend any Cross Country meet or indoor/outdoor Track and Field meet, and every coach, official, or opposing athlete knows her by name.
Mrs. Doud developed the girls outdoor Track and Field program, then advocated for and founded Pioneer's indoor Track and Field team starting in 2001. She has single-handedly led the indoor track program ever since.
ABOVE: The flag football team honored Mrs. Doud at its recent Senior Night.
In 2004, Mrs. Doud lobbied for the reinstatement of the long sidelined Cross Country team and developed a powerhouse program eventually consisting of Pioneer and Holland athletes.
Mrs. Doud has been a stellar coach, teacher and role model at Pioneer, where athletes have had opportunities outside Section VI provided by her personal desire to go above and beyond.
Mrs. Doud is the fourth recipient of the Key Award, following in the footsteps of former girls soccer coach Frank Asquith, former field hockey coach Jana Landahl, and ex-wrestling coach Chris Edwards. Bill Weidner is Pioneer's Athletic Director.
(Jana Landahl and Amy Shephard helped in the preparation of this story.)