DUDLEY, Mass. (June 17) – Nichols College Director of Athletics Charlyn Robert has promoted Colleen Harris to head women’s ice hockey coach, it was announced Thursday. Previously an assistant with the Bison women’s ice hockey program for the 2009-10 season, Harris takes over for Bob Martin, who resigned in early June to become the events manager at Porter & Chester Institute.
“We are very pleased to have Coach Harris at the helm of the women's hockey program,” said Robert. “She has so much to bring to the program from her playing experiences and success at Boston College. Her love of the game and passion for coaching will inspire and challenge student-athletes to reach their potential as they, too, strive for excellence on the ice and in the classroom. She also strongly believes in being leaders in the community and is eager to involve the team in various campus and local community projects and events. We look forward to program growth in the next few years and are excited about the team’s potential for the 2010-11 season with a talented pool of incoming prospects joining us in September.”
Harris played in 132 games as a member of the Boston College women’s ice hockey team, helping the Eagles to national prominence as they reached the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four for the first time in program history in 2007 after winning back-to-back Women’s Beanpot titles. She captained the team in her senior campaign and captured the team’s Unsung Hero and Outstanding Senior of the Year awards.
“I am very excited to be given the opportunity to continue to build a foundation for this young program and keep Nichols College hockey moving in the right direction,” said Harris, who will assume her first head coaching position. “We have a lot of potential and a great group of student-athletes who are willing to work hard to make this program successful and represent Nichols College well in the ECAC East.”
Last season as an assistant coach with the Bison, Harris helped guide Nichols to its first-ever playoff berth, as the Bison secured a spot in the ECAC East quarterfinals in just their second season of varsity competition. She will serve as a coach at the USA Hockey Select 17 National Camp in St. Cloud, Minn., this summer. Prior to coming to Nichols, Harris was a coach at Pro Ambitions Hockey Inc., where she provided on-ice instruction to youth between six to 18 years of age, and this summer she will serve as a head instructor.
Harris is a 2008 graduate of Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. She was a Dean’s List student and a five-time Hockey East Association All-Academic Team member as she remained at the College to begin her master’s work in 2008 after an injury sidelined her six games into her junior season. Harris was also a four-time recipient of the Athletic Director’s Award for Academic Achievement and a three-time Academic Merit List honoree.
While at Boston College, she was an active volunteer with the HEAR Program (Help Educate Through Athletic Responsibility), and gave her time at the Franciscan Children’s Hospital and the Massachusetts Hospital School. She continues to be active with the TRY Program (Teaching and Restoring Youth) in her native Buffalo, N.Y., where she assists with administrative aspects for the transitional housing program for young women.