The Ohio State University women’s hockey team has a new head coach. The Buckeyes have hired Nadine Muzerall to become the programs fourth head coach in history.
The former Minnesota Golden Gophers assistant coach is OSU’s third coach in as many years and she replaces former head coach Jenny Potter who was fired in August.
“Our journey to excellence in women’s ice hockey begins,” Diana Sabau, Ohio State senior associate athletics director, said in a statement. “Nadine Muzerall has earned a reputation as one of the top coaches in the sport. She is uniquely qualified as the leader of our program. She has won four NCAA National Championships as a coach. She has more than 15 years of experience both nationally and internationally, played professionally in Europe and had a record-setting career as a student-athlete. Nadine is a teacher and an exact fit with the core values that we hold dearly at The Ohio State University.”
Recognizing greatness in 1st half!
🏆Nat'l champion SAs
🆕 @OhioState_WHKY HC
🌰Buckeye Coaches of the Year!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/OVUm3ZNue2— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) September 10, 2016
Muzerall is excited about taking the next step in her career. “I’m so grateful and humbled for the opportunity to coach the women’s ice hockey team at The Ohio State University,” she said. “The opportunity to work with [athletics director] Gene Smith, Diana Sabau, and the rest of this support staff is such an honor for me. I’m proud to be the newest member of the Buckeye family; the respect this university receives from around the country and around the world is unparalleled.”
Muzerall played collegiately for the Minnesota Gophers from 1997-01. The two-time All-American is still the Gophers all-time leading goal scorer with 139 career goals, she also ranks fifth all-time in career points with 235.
Muzerall also played for Lugano of the Regio League in Switzerland during the 2009-10 season.
Prior to becoming the head coach at OSU, Muzerall was an assistant coach under Brad Frost at Minnesota from 2010-16. During her five seasons behind the bench, the Gophers won four NCAA National Championships. Importantly for Ohio State, Muzerall was also heavily involved in the Gophers recruitment process.