Childs, Pamela

Legend. Pioneer. Institution. These are just some of the words used to describe Pam Childs upon her retirement in 1999 as the Putnam High School girls’ varsity basketball coach. Childs began the program some 30 years earlier, in 1969, at a time when the Quinebaug Valley Conference didn’t recognize organized girls’ basketball. This was simply unacceptable to Coach Childs, who was very involved in athletics during her high school and college years, so she, along with two of her contemporaries from Putnam Catholic and Woodstock Academy, formed what they call the “Ladies QVC.” Eventually, the league’s athletic directors recognized them and Coach Childs went on to lead her teams to 411 victories. Included in those victories, were eight QVC champi-onships, five appearances in the Connecticut Class S state tournament semifinals, and two trips to the State Championship game. She also enjoyed a two-year, 44-game regular season win streak from December, 1978 to December, 1980.

Personal awards and honors also came her way. Coach Childs was twice named the Norwich Bulletin Coach of the Year. She was selected to coach in the Connecticut High School Coaches’ Association Girls’ Senior All-Star Game as well as being requested numerous times to coach Rotary and Lions’ clubs all-star teams. In 1994, Childs was recognized for her achievements by the Connecticut High School Coaches’ Association when she was chosen the Connecticut Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. In 2000, she was the recipient of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference’s Basketball Merit Award.