SUNY Cortland Athletics

After graduating from SUNY Cortland, Karen Cornell Funk '72 returned to her small hometown of Marathon, N.Y., where she built from scratch one of New York State's greatest scholastic field hockey dynasties. Over her 28 seasons as head coach, Funk has led Marathon Central field hockey squads to four New York Class D state championships, five sectional titles, nine league crowns and an overall 283-125-42 record. Her former players include a member of the USA National Field Hockey Team, members of the Under-18 and Under-16 National Teams, and participants in the prestigious U.S. Field Hockey Futures Program. Funk's Marathon field hockey charges have gone on to play at 17 different universities and colleges, including national championship teams at the University of Maryland, SUNY Cortland, William Smith and Herkimer County Community College.

As a SUNY Cortland undergraduate, Funk played intramural softball, officiated volleyball and softball, and was active with the Women's Athletic Association. After graduation, she went back home to Marathon as a substitute teacher and coach. As Title IX unfolded, she instituted varsity field hockey in 1972 and started a youth field hockey program in 1988. She became a full-time physical educator at Marathon in 1982.

Her contributions extend well beyond one sport. Funk has coached girls basketball, volleyball and softball at different levels. She initiated a sixth grade D.A.R.E. Program, implemented a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, and was student advisor to the Athletes Living Chemical Free Program. A 26-year member of the Osco Robinson American Legion Auxiliary, Funk has chaired its Education, Scholarship and New York Girls State Committees since the 1980's. She annually volunteers for the Lions Club-sponsored Red Cross Bloodmobile and serves on the Pastor/Parish Committee at United Methodist Church. Funk has received the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Award from the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, the Interscholastic Athletic Conference's Robert Springer Coach of the Year Award, and both the Southern Tier Officials and New York State Tournament Sportsmanship Awards.

She and her husband, Richard, have a daughter, Cari.