Lake Forest College Director of Athletics Jackie Slaats announced Tuesday the hiring of Jennifer Wilson as the fourth head coach in the history of the Forester women’s hockey program.
Wilson comes to Lake Forest from NCAA Division III Buffalo State, a member of the Northeast Women’s Hockey League. The Bengals posted a 13-11-2 overall record in 2017-18, Wilson’s first season at the helm of the program. Buffalo State was 9-6-1 in conference play and earned a home game in the inaugural NEWHL playoffs by placing second in the standings behind perennial national power Plattsburgh State.
Prior to her time at Buffalo State Wilson spent a pair of seasons as the head coach at ACHA Division I Robert Morris University in Chicago and associate head coach at the high school level at Loyola Academy. She helped lead Robert Morris to the Eagles’ first appearance in the conference tournament semifinals in four years and Loyola to a state title and runner-up finish.
Wilson’s coaching career began at NCAA Division III St. Michael’s in Vermont, where she was an assistant for two seasons. She helped lead the Knights to their first postseason appearance in the program’s 12-year history and was selected as an intern coach for the U15 National Development Camp in St. Cloud, Minn. Wilson remains active with USA Hockey as a certified level 4 coach and has additional experience as a talent evaluator, instructor, and coach for several high-level state programs and showcases.
Wilson began her collegiate playing career at NCAA Division III Manhattanville College, where she was part of the 2006 ECAC-East Championship team that posted a 23-4-1 record. She played her final two years at Robert Morris, where she served as an assistant captain and amassed 49 points on 22 goals and 27 assists in 68 games. The Manitowoc, Wisconsin, native was also one of the state’s top high school players and was selected to Team Wisconsin for the Chicago Showcase. Wilson earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and television writing from Columbia College in Chicago and earned a master’s in sports administration from Robert Morris.
“I would like to thank Jackie Slaats and her athletic staff for this amazing opportunity to be part of the Forester Family and it’s tradition of excellence,” commented Wilson. “I am humbled and ecstatic to be back home in the Midwest and looking forward to continuing the success of the Forester women’s hockey program.”
“I am extremely excited to add Coach Wilson to our staff,” began Slaats. “She has excelled at every stop during her coaching career and I look forward to Lake Forest College being added to that list. Our program has established itself as one of the strongest in the west region and I am confident her energy and passion for the sport will help continue and enhance its success.”
Wilson takes over a Forester team that was 20-9-0 overall and finished second in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association standings at 15-3-0 in league play. Lake Forest has posted three consecutive 20-win seasons and reached the championship game of the Northern College Hockey Association playoffs in four of the last five years with a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances during that span.
