DULUTH, Minn. – Athletics Director Don Olson announced today that Jackie MacMillan will be the first head coach of St. Scholastica's women's hockey intercollegiate program.

MacMillan spent the past two years at Division III New England College. She took over as head coach at New England halfway through the 2006-07 season. In her first full season, MacMillan guided the Pilgrims to 15 wins, which tied a single-season program record and led them to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East Championship game for the second time in school history. During her three seasons, she accumulated a 31-26-3 record.

“I am extremely honored to be a part of building a program at such a great institution as St. Scholastica,” MacMillan said. “Duluth is such a great hockey community and I am excited to be a part of something special. The kind of team we will hope to put together in these first few years is one that is determined, disciplined, unified, and out-works their opponents. I strongly believe if we can find student-athletes with those qualities, we will see success quickly in our program.”

Prior to moving to New England, MacMillan spent three seasons as the assistant coach at Division I Union College. Other coaching experience for MacMillan includes serving as an assistant coach at St. Olaf College and as an assistant coach for Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep. She was also an instructor for numerous camps and hockey schools including, USA 18-Under Development Camp and NCWHL Hockey Clinic.

“The College of St. Scholastica is very excited to be initiating a women's intercollegiate hockey program,” Athletics Director Don Olson said. “To be able to embark on this venture with a coach of Jackie MacMillan's experience, knowledge, energy, and leadership qualities only add to our enthusiasm. Jackie has a thorough understanding of the balance between academics and athletics at the Division III level and will be an excellent role model for her athletes."

MacMillan is very familiar with first-year women's hockey program as she was part of the first recruiting class for the University of Wisconsin in 1999.

“I was extremely blessed to be a part of the inaugural team at the University of Wisconsin,” MacMillan said. “What I remember are many of the first moments: the first practice, game, road trip and all of my teammates who were a part of those first four years. I hope to help the first women's hockey players at St. Scholastica realize how truly unique they will be in the first years of the program.”

As a starting goalie for the Badgers, MacMillan led the nation in goals against average in 2002. She was a first team all-Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) selection in 2000 and was a second team choice in 2002. She was named WCHA Player of the Week six different times during her career and was on the WCHA All-Academic Team in 2002 and 2003.

During her four years MacMillan had 75 wins in between the pipes. She still holds numerous goaltending records for the Badgers. She also played for the United States under-22 national team in 2000.

MacMillan, who grew up in Buffalo, Minn., played with boys teams since she was five years old. She was a captain on the Buffalo High School Boys varsity team her senior year. She was inducted into the Buffalo Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005. MacMillan's dad played goaltender at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

The Saints will hit the ice officially as an intercollegiate team in 2010-11. St. Scholastica will play in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA), which will then feature 11 teams.

“With the growth of the NCHA, I think it is a perfect time to be adding the program at St. Scholastica,” MacMillan said. “It is a conference that has been typically top heavy, but has definitely gotten stronger over the past couple years. I am excited to be a part of what I think will be the most competitive conference in Division III women's hockey in the next five years.”

The women's team will practice and play its games at Mars Lakeview Arena, the same facility that the CSS men's team currently uses.


MacMillan's Coaching Resume
Head Coach. New England College (Division III). 2007-09.
Assistant Hockey Coach. Union College (Division I). 2004-07.
Assistant Hockey Coach. St. Olaf College (Division III). 2003-04.
Assistant Hockey Coach. Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School. 2003-04.
Assistant Coach. Women's Golf. Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School. 2004.
Assistant Hockey Coach. Madison East Boys High School. 2002-03.
Coach. USA Hockey 18-Under Development Camp. 2006.
Head Instructor. NCWHL Hockey Clinic. 2005.
Lead Instructor. Bob Frerker's Goalie School. Superior, WI. 1998-Present.
Instructor. Buffalo Satellite Training Program. 2002-Present.
Instructor. Cornell Hockey School. 2005.
Evaluator. USA Hockey Development Camp, MN-North Region. 2004.
Instructor. St. Cloud State University Hockey School. 2003.
Evaluator. USA Hockey Development Camp, Central District. 2002.
Instructor. Michigan Tech Hockey School. Houghton, MI. 2000.
Instructor. Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association. Madison, WI. 2000.

MacMillan's Honors & Awards as a Player
Inducted into Buffalo Hockey Hall of Fame. 2005.
First Team All-WCHA. 2000.
Second Team All-WCHA. 2002.
Two-Time WCHA Player of the Week. 1999-2003.
Four-Time WCHA Defensive Player of the Week. 1999-2003.
WCHA Rookie of the Week. 1999.
Four-Time USCHO National Defensive Player of the Week. 1999-2003.
University of Wisconsin Scholar Athlete Award. 2002.
WCHA All-Academic team. 2002, 2003.