PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Following a national search, Plymouth State University Director of Athletics Kim Bownes has announced the hiring of Mollie Fitzpatrick as its new head women's ice hockey coach.
 
The bulk of Fitzpatrick's coaching experience comes at her alma mater, Norwich University, where she won national titles as both a player and coach. She spent last season on the staff at Boston University and previously helped transition the programs at Endicott College and the University of New England to varsity status.
 
"We are extremely fortunate to have Mollie joining our coaching staff," said Bownes. "I am thrilled that our women's ice hockey student-athletes will be coached and mentored by a very successful and experienced coach."
 
A 2012 graduate from Norwich, Fitzpatrick returned to the Cadets' bench for the 2015-16 season. During her six years as an assistant, she helped lead Norwich to four straight NCAA tournaments from 2017 to 2020, winning the 2018 national title and reaching the 2017 national semifinals. Norwich won at least 20 games in all five full seasons she was on the coaching staff and went 7-1 in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.
 
"I would like to thank the search committee and especially Kim Bownes and Courtney O'Clair for all of their time and dedication to this process and allowing me to see all that Plymouth State University has to offer," said Fitzpatrick. "It's going to be fun and I'm eager to get to work writing this next chapter of Plymouth State women's ice hockey together with our student-athletes. I would also like to thank my previous head coaches for their faith and support in helping prepare me to take on a head coaching role at the collegiate level. Finally, and most importantly, I'd like to thank my previous players I've had the privilege of coaching. With me I will take all the lessons, insight and memories from you to the student-athletes at Plymouth State to give them the very best hockey experience I can."
 
Last winter, Fitzpatrick helped Boston University to a 12-15-6 record, including 11-9-5 mark in the Hockey East. The Terriers went 2-0-1 against UNH and fell to tournament runner-up University of Connecticut in the Hockey East Tournament quarterfinals.
 
"We are overjoyed that Mollie is joining the Panther family," added search committee chair and Associate Athletic Director Courtney O'Clair. "Between Mollie's playing experience and coaching career, we believe she has everything needed to take our program to the next level."
 
Well-known as an exceptional recruiter, Fitzpatrick helped bring three AHCA All-Americans to Norwich, including one of the most decorated players in NCAA Division III women's hockey history in Amanda Conway. Conway, the Laura Hurd Award winner as the national player of the year, was also the first three-time All-American in Norwich history and finished her career third on the NCAA all-time goals list and tied for fourth in points.
 
Fitzpatrick spent the 2013-14 season as an assistant at UNE, helping the program transition to varsity status. She moved into the same role at Endicott for the 2014-15 season, bringing 20 new players to the Gulls for the program's inaugural varsity season, including several who would go on to earn All-Conference nods.
 
A two-sport athlete at Norwich, Fitzpatrick made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances as a player, winning the national championship in 2011. Splitting time between defense and forward, she played in 70 career games and totaled six goals and 13 assists. She set career highs in both goals (four) and assists (five) during her senior season after playing in 22 games.
 
Fitzpatrick also excelled on the lacrosse field, helping guide Norwich to three straight GNAC championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances while scoring 80 goals and adding 30 assists.
 
The first female inductee into the Cheverus (Maine) High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Fitzpatrick earned her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Norwich in 2017. She begins her duties in June.
 
Plymouth State ended the season with a 7-17-1 mark and went 5-13-0 in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) to capture the eighth seed for the NEHC Tournament. The Panthers were knocked out by ninth-seeded Salem State in overtime, 4-3.