Utica University head coach Dave Clausen was named a finalist for the 2022-23 Division III Women’s CCM/AHCA Coach of the Year Award. The award will be announced on March 16 and presented on Thursday, April 27 at the AHCA Convention in Naples, FL.
 
To be considered a finalist, one must either be named Coach of the Year at the conference level or advance to the NCAA Frozen Four.
 
Clausen, who was named the 2022-23 UCHC Coach of the Year earlier in the month, led the Pioneers to the 2023 UCHC Championship game. Clausen led the Pioneers to a program-record 22 wins and No. 12 national ranking. The Pioneers earned 55 of a possible 60 points in league play. Utica is fourth nationally in scoring, with 4.79 goals per game, fourth defensively, allowing 0.96 goals per game and is third in scoring margin (3.82). The Pioneers are in the top-10 nationally in nearly every team category.

Clausen, the only head coach in Utica’s 22-year history, has 325 career wins. He also coached Erica Sloan, the 2023 UCHC Player of the Year and Angela Hawthorne, the 2023 UCHC Goaltender of the Year. In addition, four Pioneers earned 2023 All-UCHC first team honors (Madison Novotny,  Hawthorne, Georgiana Santullo and Sloan).

2022-23 CCM/AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey College Division Coach of the Year Finalists
A.J. Aitken, St. Norbert, NCHA Coach of the Year
Mike Carroll, Gustavus Adolphus, NCAA Semi-Finalist (MIAC)
Jason Carter, Northland, WIAC Coach of the Year
Dave Clausen, Utica, UCHC Coach of the Year
Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh, NEWHL Coach of the Year, NCAA Semi-Finalist*
Tracy Johnson, St. Olaf, MIAC Coach of the Year
Jeff Matthews, Amherst, NCAA Semi-Finalist (NESCAC)
Tim McAuliffe, Castleton, NEHC Coach of the Year
Emily McNamara, Hamilton, NESCAC Coach of the Year, NCAA Semi-Finalist
Taylor Wasylk, Suffolk, CCC Coach of the Year

*Former Recipient of this award.

ABOUT THE UNITED COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE
The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is a collaborative effort between eleven institutions to provide a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States. Our membership encompasses a wide geographic area spanning from Central and Western New York to the greater Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas. In its sixth season, the UCHC will incorporate the efforts of ice hockey student-athletes from Arcadia University, Alvernia University, Chatham University, King's College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica University, and Wilkes University into their strong, but evolving membership that strives for on-ice excellence while also preparing student athletes for their off-ice futures. For more on the UCHC, visit the league's homepage at http://www.TheUCHC.com, or follow the league on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/UCHCHockey.