Donovan to lead Women’s Hockey as Interim Head Coach

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— Assistant Dean of Athletics and Recreation Laura Mooney has announced that longtime Saint Michael's College coach Chris Donovan has been hired as the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) interim women's ice hockey head coach, effective immediately.

"We feel incredibly fortunate that Chris is able to step in to lead our women's hockey program at this point in time," said Mooney. "It's difficult to imagine a better outcome following Coach Isaacson's departure, than to have someone with Chris's experience and history of success, come on board to help build on the momentum of last year's inaugural season."

Earlier this month former MCLA head coach Heath Isaacson resigned to accept the women's ice hockey head coaching position at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Up until his retirement from Saint Michael's last season, where he was the only head coach in the varsity history of the women's ice hockey program, Donovan was also the fifth-longest-tenured NCAA women's ice hockey head coach after serving for twenty-four seasons with the Purple Knights.  

Donovan, who is USA Hockey Level 4 coaching certified, has evaluated at USA Hockey's National Player Development Camp tryout for more than a decade and was also previously the coaching director for the Vermont Northern Lights women's program.

Donovan attended and played hockey at Norwich University, serving as captain of the Cadets in his senior year.