Beth Regan ’79 returned to the program as a volunteer assistant women’s basketball coach a decade ago at her alma mater, where she previously served under the late Alumni Hall of Fame coach Bob Miller for three seasons in the mid 1980s.
Regan played basketball and softball at Eastern in the late 1970s, and later returned to coach the women’s soccer program through its first six years on the varsity level between 1986 and 1991.
In June of 2022, Regan was recognized at Eastern's annual Leadership Luncheon as the recipient of the University's Distinguished Service Award for "her accomplishments as an educator, coach, athlete, tribal leader and dedicated Eastern alumna." At that time, Regan was informed that a Beth Regan '79, M '89 Endowed Women's Soccer Fund had been established following a fundraising campaign lead by former Eastern head women's soccer coach Christian D'Ambrosio and the program's alumni in recognition of Regan's key role in founding the women's soccer program as a varsity sport in 1986 and serving as its first head coach.
A native of New Britain and long-time resident of Hampton, Regan lettered four seasons under Miller, where she played on the first team to win 20 games, and first post-season tournament and national tournament qualifying teams. As a sophomore, she lettered on the first intercollegiate softball team under the late Alumni Hall of Fame coach Clyde Washburne.
In the fall of 1986, the 1998 Alumni Hall of Famer left her position as the highly successful women’s soccer coach at Tolland High School to serve as head coach of the newly-instituted women’s soccer team at Eastern. In six years, Regan led the Warriors to a record of 48-30-9. In her third year, Eastern qualified for the ECAC Division III New England Tournament, and the following season, qualified for its first NCAA Division III tournament.
During Regan’s three-year stint as assistant women’s basketball coach between 1984 and 1987, Eastern qualified for one NCAA and two ECAC tournaments and compiled an overall record of 51-27. Her final season coincided with the first season of the Little East Conference.
