Nadine Muzerall, the most successful head coach in the history of Ohio State women’s hockey, has recently signed a contract extension that will keep her at the helm of the team until the end of the 2028-29 season.
During her eight-year tenure as head coach, Muzerall has transformed the Buckeyes’ program into a powerhouse in women’s college hockey. Since assuming leadership in the 2016-17 season, Ohio State has clinched two national championships, two WCHA Final Faceoff championships, and two WCHA regular-season titles. The team has consistently reached the national title game and the Frozen Four, as well as competing in five consecutive NCAA tournaments.
In a statement, Janine Oman, Ohio State’s senior deputy director of athletics and SWA, expressed the university’s excitement about extending Muzerall’s contract. Oman commended Muzerall for raising the standards of women’s hockey at Ohio State and creating a program that consistently contends for national titles. She praised Muzerall for not only developing exceptional hockey players but also nurturing outstanding students and leaders off the ice.
Under Muzerall’s guidance, the Buckeyes achieved a record-breaking 35 wins in their 2024 national championship season. Prior to her arrival, the team had only secured one 20-game season. However, under her leadership, they have achieved 20-plus win seasons in six of the last seven campaigns, with three seasons exceeding 30 wins. Muzerall’s coaching record stands at an impressive 195-73-19 during her time with the Buckeyes.
Muzerall, a five-time WCHA coach of the year award recipient and five-time AHCA coach of the year finalist, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Ohio State women’s hockey program. She acknowledged the trust placed in her by Janine Oman and Gene Smith and affirmed her pride in the progress made over the last eight seasons. While celebrating their achievements, she also expressed her ambition to propel the program into becoming one of the nation’s elite.
During her tenure, Muzerall has guided players to nine All-America honors and 33 all-WCHA awards. Under her tutelage, player Sophie Jaques became the program’s first Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner in 2023. Additionally, Jenn Gardiner and Emma Maltais were both named as top-10 finalists for the award. Muzerall’s players have also earned seven conference player of the year and position player of the year accolades.
Furthermore, the success of the Buckeyes extends beyond the ice to the classroom. The women’s hockey program has consistently been recognized for academic excellence, with the team winning the Varsity O Cup for the highest large roster team grade point average at Ohio State for the past four academic years. In the 2023-24 season, the team achieved an impressive GPA of 3.778. Muzerall has also supported her players in securing numerous AHCA all-American scholar awards and WCHA scholar-athlete honors.
With a proven track record of success and a strong commitment to both athletic and academic excellence, Muzerall’s extension is a testament to the impact she has made at Ohio State. The future looks promising for the Buckeyes under her continued leadership.