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Head Coach

Shawn Skelly

Shawn Skelly is entering his seventh year at the helm of the NCAA women's hockey program at Adrian College heading into the 2023-24 campaign. Entering the season, Skelly holds a career record of 140-22-7 as head coach.

AT ADRIAN

  • During the 2023-24 season, Skelly led the Bulldogs to a 28-3-0 record and the team's second undefeated NCHA season. The team won the NCHA Regular Seasson Championship and the NCHA Slaats Cup Championship to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Hamilton College in the Quarterfinals before falling the No. 1 UW-River Falls on the road in the Frozen Four. 2024 was the program's third Frozen Four appearance and the second under Skelly. During the season, Skelly was named the NCHA Co-Coach of the Year.
  • In 2023, Skelly coached the Women's Hockey Team to an NCHA Regular Season Championship and Slaats Cup Championship, earning them an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they received a first-round bye to the Quarterfinals. Skelly coached five AHCA All-Americans, one NCHA All-Freshman team honor, and one CSC Academic All-American. Additionally, he coached a Laura Hurd Award finalist for NCAA Division III Player of the Year.
  • In 2021, Skelly coached four All-Conference picks, two All-Freshman team members, and the NCHA Player of the Year during another Regular Season Championship.
  • Coach Skelly coached three All-NCHA selections in 2019, two 2019 All-Freshman team picks, seven All-NCHA selections in 2020, an All-Freshman team member in 2020, and was named NCHA Coach of the Year.
  • In 2020, the Bulldogs qualified for the NCAA Tournament before it was canceled due to COVID-19. The following year, Adrian put together an undefeated season winning another Slaats Cup.
  • His first year behind the bench saw the Bulldogs reach the NCAA Frozen Four for the second time in program history, culminating in a third-place finish. The Bulldogs won 24 games in the 2018-19 season, the third-most in team history and most by a first-year head coach.
  • Prior to a shortened postseason due to COVID-19, Skelly led his team to a Slaats Cup win and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
  • The 2018-19 squad reached No. 1 in the USCHO.com and d3hockey.com polls for the first time in history after beating No. 2-ranked Plattsburgh State for the first time in program history and No. 4-ranked Middlebury in one weekend.
  • Won seventh-straight NCHA regular season championship and sixth-straight playoff championship in the 2020-21 season.
  • In 2016-17, returned to his alma mater as a women's hockey assistant coach on Davis' staff. He helped Adrian to its first appearance in the NCAA national title game and a sweep of NCHA regular-season and tournament championships en route to a record-breaking 28-3 campaign.

PRIOR TO CURRENT POSITION

  • In 2017-18 Skelly was the top assistant on the coaching staff of his former linemate, Krug '12. Skelly worked with the AC defensemen and assisted Krug in all facets of the men's program to include recruiting, on-ice coaching, systems play, practice preparation and game planning.
  • Skelly helped the Bulldogs give up the second-fewest goals in program history (54), ranking fifth in the nation in scoring defense at 1.80 goals per game a season ago. The penalty killing unit was seventh with an 88.5 percent success rate, and scored the third-most (7) shorthanded goals in Division III. Adrian captured the NCHA Peters Cup regular-season title for the fourth year in a row and finished fourth in the national rankings.

NCHA/INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES UNDER COACH SKELLY

  • In 2018-19 Kelly O'Sullivan picked up All-American honors, along with four All-Conference and two All-Freshman selections by the NCHA. 10 Bulldogs were named NCHA All-Academic and senior Kortney Diaz tied for the lead in all of Division III in shorthanded goals. 
  • In 2017-18, freshman Kelly O'Sullivan received All-America status and also was named the USCHO.com Division III Women's Rookie of the Year. Sydney Smith repeated All-America honors.

PROFESSIONAL PLAYING CAREER

  • Prior to coming to Adrian for the 2016-17 season, Skelly played professional hockey for five teams--Mississippi Surge, Toledo Walleye, Wheeling Nailers, Alaska Aces and Macon Mayhem--from 2011 to 2016, appearing in the East Coast (ECHL) and Southern Professional hockey leagues (SPHL).
  • In his first full season playing professional hockey, Skelly generated 46 points on 20 goals and 26 assists in 52 games played for the Mississippi Surge during the 2011-12 season. Saw action in two games in the playoffs, recording an assist.

COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER

  • One of the most prolific point producers in NCAA Division III history, Skelly was a member of the inaugural Adrian College 2007-08 squad to finish his four-year career as the all-time leader in points (230), goals (102), game-winning goals (20), power-play goals (47), assists (128) and shots on goal (593).
  • He ranks 29th in Division III point-scoring. A four-time all-conference standout who was named the 2009 Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA) Player of the Year as a sophomore, when he led NCAA Division III in scoring with 69 points en route to USCHO First Team All-America status.
  • During his junior year, Skelly became the all-time points leader in MCHA (now known as the NCHA) history. His collegiate hockey career culminated with American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-America First Team accolades after a 21+28=49 campaign and the 2011 Senior Male Athlete of the Year at the College. 
  • During his four seasons wearing an Adrian jersey, Adrian collected four consecutive MCHA regular season titles, four conference tournament championships, and a trip to the NCAA final four culminating with a loss in the national championship game in 2011.

Skelly graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2011.