Yale’s women’s hockey program is losing its most victorious coach, as Hilary Witt is stepping down. Following eight seasons and 96 wins, the former Northeastern standout is resigning to pursue other interests, according to a Yale press release.
Witt guided the Bulldogs to six ECAC Hockey playoff berths during her time at the helm, which followed a year of assistant-coaching at Yale in 2001-02. Witt was honored as the league’s Coach of the Year in her first season in charge, and the Bulldogs set and re-set school records for conference wins three years running, from 2002-03 to ’04-05 when they racked up a dozen league W’s. The 2007-08 team set a school record for overall goals as well, with 96.
Players under her tutelage included one first team All-ECAC selection, three second team All-ECAC selections and three ECAC All-Rookie picks. In 2007-08, the team earned ECAC Hockey’s Turfer Award for sportsmanship. The Elis also boasted a school-record 21 ECAC Hockey All-Academic honorees in 2008-09. The Bulldogs also had three finalists for the ECAC Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year Award, as well as an Academic All-Ivy League selection in each of the last six years.
Witt was a three-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award in her playing days with the Huskies, and is a member of both the Massachusetts Hockey and Beanpot Halls of Fame. She earned silver medals as an assistant coach for the U.S. at the 2006 Four Nations Cup and the 2007 IIHF World Championship.
Witt will stay at her post until June 30, by which time a nation-wide search for her replacement should be complete.
“All of us at Yale would like to thank Hilary Witt for the work she has done for Yale women’s hockey,†said Tom Beckett, Yale’s Director of Athletics, in the school’s press release.
“Under her leadership, the program achieved many significant milestones. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors, and we are glad that she is remaining in her current role through June as we transition to a new coach.â€
