Demi Janis first picked up a stick at the Old Greenwich
Riverside Community Center (OGRCC). Now, she’s back where it all began—this time as head coach, helping more than 20 young OGRCC members learn the game on Saturday afternoons at Riverside School.
Demi Janis, head coach at OGRCC, with young players at Riverside School. Contributed photo
For Janis, the appointment marks a meaningful return to the program that sparked her love of the sport. A Greenwich native who grew up in the OGRCC community, she went on to play at Eastern Middle School and Greenwich High School, earning First Team All-FCIAC and First Team All-State honors during her senior year.
She continued her field hockey career at Trinity College in Connecticut, competing in a successful collegiate program that advanced to the NCAA Final Four and Elite Eight.
Today, Janis brings that experience to young players who are beginning their own field hockey journeys. Her coaching emphasizes strong fundamentals, skill development, teamwork, and confidence, with plenty of encouragement to help players enjoy learning the sport.
Her background as an educator adds another dimension to her work on the field. A second-grade teacher at Fairfield Country Day School this school year, Janis brings an understanding of how children learn and how to make new skills approachable and engaging.
Saturday afternoons at OGRCC give young athletes a chance to practice, make friends, and feel the satisfaction of improving together. With Janis leading the program, players are learning from someone whose own path shows where those first experiences can lead.
Her return reminds us of the lasting connections built through community sports—and the chance for one generation of OGRCC players to inspire the next.
For more information about OGRCC field hockey and other youth programs, visit myogrcc.org
Demi Janis, head coach at OGRCC, with young players at Riverside School. Contributed photo
Demi Janis, head coach at OGRCC, with young players at Riverside School. Contributed photo