HAMILTON – Colgate women’s hockey head coach Greg Fargo has announced the addition of Chelsea Walkland to the staff as an assistant coach.
Walkland joins the Colgate program after spending five years at Robert Morris as an assistant coach. With her leadership at RMU, the Colonials are three-time defending College Hockey America Regular Season Champions and made an NCAA Final Eight appearance in the 2016-17 campaign. While coordinating recruits for the program, Walkland committed the 2017 Division I NCAA Rookie of the Year, multiple All-NCAA Team members, and Hockey Canada invitees. Walkland also had efforts off the ice, coordinating the team’s community service, alumni relations, fundraising, and was a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Faculty Representative.39538
“We are thrilled to welcome Chelsea Walkland as the newest member of our hockey family,” Coach Fargo said. “Chelsea arrives at Colgate with a championship pedigree, having won a national title at Division III with RIT and numerous championships during her time at Robert Morris. As a proven recruiter, experienced and very well respected coach in our game, she understands what it takes to win. I’m excited to work alongside both Stefan and Chelsea in this new chapter of our program and continue to grow in order to allow our student-athletes to thrive at Colgate and beyond.”
Prior to returning to her Alma Mater at Robert Morris, Walkland spent the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons as the top assistant coach at the State University of New York at Oswego. Under her leadership, Oswego State reached new heights as a program, breaking the school record for wins in a season with 12 in 2012-13 and 17 in 2013-14. The Lakers also finished third in the ECAC West in the 2013-14 season, which marked their highest finish ever in conference play.
“I am extremely honored and excited to join the Colgate University women’s hockey coaching staff,” Walkland said. “Colgate has grown into a premier program in the country while maintaining a tradition of academic and athletic excellence. I look forward to working with the outstanding student-athletes and helping the program continue to reach new heights.”
Walkland began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant with the Rochester Institute of Technology, spending one season with the Tigers before advancing to Oswego State. Walkland found success in her lone year at RIT, helping the Tigers to a 28-1-1 record and Division III national championship in 2011-12.
Prior to coaching, Walkland returned to Robert Morris as the hockey operations manager for the 2010-11 season. While playing with the Colonials from 2006-2010, Walkland served as an assistant captain during both her junior and senior seasons. A three-time College Hockey America (CHA) All-Academic Team honoree, Walkland finished her career with 41 points by 17 goals and 24 assists in a program record 140 games played. In a standout performance against Sacred Heart on Feb. 7, 2009, Walkland tallied a goal and five assists in a 12-0 win where her assist total still stands as the second-best in a single game at RMU.
Walkland has also worked with USA Hockey serving as the New York State District Evaluator in March of 2012 and as a U16/U17 Player Development Camp Intern Coach in July of the same year.
“I would like to thank Coach Fargo, Coach Decosse, and the rest of the search committee for this wonderful opportunity,” Walkland added. “My family and I can’t wait to become part of the Colgate community!”
A native of Pittsford, New York, Walkland graduated from Robert Morris in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. She later earned a Master of Science in instructional leadership at RMU in 2011.
