Becker College Director of Athletics Frank Millerick announced the appointment of Eliza Kelley as the first head women’s ice hockey coach at Becker College on July 22, 2014.
“I am humbled and extremely excited to have the opportunity to begin the women’s ice hockey program at Becker College,” Kelley said. “Becker has built a reputation of attracting quality student-athletes to its programs and I look forward to growing both that repute and the great game of ice hockey in such a supportive environment.”
Kelley was hired as a graduate assistant for the Utica College women’s hockey team in the Spring of 2011. She assisted Head Coach Dave Clausen with all facets of the program including practice and game preparation, recruiting and office management. Over the course of three seasons on the bench she helped guide the Pioneers to a 43-30-6 overall record as well as two consecutive ECAC Women’s West Conference Tournament semifinal appearances. As a player and a coach she helped guide the Pioneers to six conference tournament appearances in the last seven seasons. She also played an intricate role in the development of recent Utica College graduate Megan Myers (Las Vegas, NV/LA Selects), who was a CCM All-American selection in 2013.
“Eliza Kelley brings experience as both a player and coach at the women’s Division III level,” Becker College Director of Athletics Frank Millerick said. “She has earned the reputation as a relentless recruiter and her winning attitude will help Becker’s women’s ice hockey program come out strong in its first season.”
Kelley graduated from Utica College in the Spring of 2011 with a bachelor of science degree in management and a concentration in human resource management. During her time at UC she played three full seasons on the women’s hockey team before taking a position as a volunteer assistant coach in her senior campaign. As a volunteer assistant she helped Coach Clausen with directing and coordinating program operations, recruiting and planning practices. She was an ECAC Women’s West All-Academic Team selection and she graduated with a cumulative grade point average of 3.47.
Her previous coaching experience also includes several years as a camp counselor at the CAN/AM Hockey Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y. She was responsible for supervising campers through on and off-ice activities and she also helped the campers develop hockey skills on a personal and team level.
Originally from Rutland, Vt., Kelley played prep school hockey at Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut.
