Nazareth head coach Chris Baudo was named a finalist for the 2025-26 Division III Women’s CCM/AHCA Coach of the Year Award. The award will be announced on March 26 at the NCAA Frozen Four in River Falls, WI and presented on Thursday, April 30 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.
Baudo, who was named the 2025-26 UCHC Coach of the Year, has led the Golden Flyers to a remarkable 26-1-1 record and their first berth into the NCAA Frozen Four. The Golden Flyers won the UCHC Regular Season for the fifth straight season. Nazareth is second in Division III with 26 wins, a .946 winning percentage and is in the top-five in virtually every NCAA team stat this season.
Baudo, a five-time UCHC Coach of the Year is also a finalist for the CCM/AHCA Coach of the Year award for the fifth time (2018-19, 2021-22, 2023-24, 2024-25). He has led the Golden Flyers to a 163-34-9 record (.813 winning percentage) in eight seasons.
Nazareth will look to win its first NCAA Championship this weekend. The Golden Flyers take on Norwich University in the national semifinal from Hunt Arena on the campus of Wisconsin-River Falls at 4 p.m. EST on Friday, March 27. If Nazareth advances, the Golden Flyers will play the winner of Wisconsin-River Falls and Amherst College in the title game at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 29.
2025-26 CCM/AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey College Division Coach of the Year Finalists
Chris Baudo, Nazareth University, UCHC Coach of the Year & NCAA Semi-Finalist
Elizabeth Bauer, Augsburg University, MIAC Coach of the Year *
Joe Cranston, UW-River Falls, WIAC Coach of the Year & NCAA Semi-Finalist *
Marykate Drinkwater, Rivier University, MASCAC Coach of the Year
Steve Fabiilli, Concord (WI) University, NCHA Coach of the Year
Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh State University, SUNYAC Coach of the Year *
Dave LaBaff, Wilkes University, Middle Atlantic Coach of the Year
Bill Mandigo, Middlebury College, NESCAC Coach of the Year *
Jeff Matthews, Amherst College, NCAA Semi-Finalist
Maddy Santore, Johnson & Wales University, CNE Coach of the Year
Justin Simpson, Norwich University, Little East Coach of the Year & NCAA Semi-Finalist
*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 fifth 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 College, 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.