Eliza Kelley was hired as a graduate assistant for the Utica College women's hockey team in the Spring of 2011. She will assist Head Coach Dave Clausen with all facets of the program including practice and game preparation, recruiting and office management.
“Liza has been a great leader for our program. First as a player, then as a volunteer. We couldn't be more excited to bring her influence to our staff full-time,” said 11th year Head Coach Dave Clausen. “As Liza steps into a full-time role as an assistant she will play a much larger role in recruiting. Her experiences as a Utica College student and hockey player will be a tremendous asset in this process.”
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.
“Liza's has a tremendous grasp of the game for a young coach,” said Clausen, who has 147 career victories as the only head coach in the history of the program. “She also has natural leadership skills which should make her a great help to our staff for the upcoming season.”
As a player and a coach she helped guide the Pioneers to four consecutive ECAC Women's West Conference Tournament appearances and 58 victories. 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 two 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. She currently resides in Utica, N.Y.
