Head coach Nadine Muzerall speaks to the Ohio State women’s ice hockey team from the bench during a 6-5 win over Minnesota Oct. 28, 2023. Credit: Courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
In recent years, the Ohio State women’s ice hockey program has become the gold standard for excellence in athletics.
Over the past six seasons, the Buckeyes have earned four Frozen Four appearances, two Western Collegiate Hockey Association Championships and a national championship in 2022.
It can all be traced back to the beginning of the 2016-17 season with the arrival of head coach Nadine Muzerall.
Muzerall, a former national championship-winning player, assistant coach and head coach, has transformed the Ohio State women’s hockey program from a below-average team to one of the top programs in the nation.
The Player
It makes sense that Muzerall has found success as a coach, as it reflects her immense success as a forward at the University of Minnesota from 1997 to 2001.
From early on in her career as a Golden Gopher, Muzerall was an offensive powerhouse and was trusted to take the majority of the shots for her team.
“I was definitely more of a shooter,” Muzerall said. “But my shot percentage was pretty bad because I took so many.”
By the end of her collegiate career, Muzerall finished with numerous records in the Minnesota record book, including first place in goals (139), goals per game (1.08) and powerplay goals (40).
In her four seasons at Minnesota, Muzerall earned two national championships in 2000 and 2001 and was a two-time All-American in 1998 and 2000, making her one of the most accomplished collegiate players in the sport.
The Assistant Coach
After Muzerall was inducted into Minnesota’s “M” Club Hall of Fame Sept. 27, 2007, she began to set her eyes on collegiate coaching.
She began as an assistant coach for the Golden Gophers at the beginning of the 2011-12 season under head coach Brad Frost.
Upon her arrival, Muzerall was able to lend some of her offensive expertise to the Minnesota program and shared her philosophy on team scoring.
“When you are in the offensive zone and you see the four other players that you can pass that puck to and you trust them,” Muzerall said, “I think that’s the biggest thing when you’re playing sports such as hockey.”
The Golden Gophers were a powerhouse under the leadership of Frost and Muzerall, winning three WCHA championships between 2011 and 2016.
But their most impressive stat of all is that…
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