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Melanie Ruzzi Named Women’s Hockey Head Coach
5/20/2021 5:20:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown University Athletics has hired Melanie Ruzzi as the Bears' next women's hockey head coach in an announcement made by Vice President for Athletics and Recreation M. Grace Calhoun, PhD. No stranger to the ECAC and Ivy League, Ruzzi comes to Brown with seven years of coaching experience in the conferences.
"We are delighted to welcome Mel to the Brown Athletics community," said Calhoun. "Through her background locally at Providence College, in addition to her experience at three Ivy League institutions and USA Hockey, Mel quickly rose to the top of an extremely strong and competitive candidate pool. We feel that she is the perfect fit to restore Brown women's ice hockey to prominence and cannot wait to welcome her, along with her partner Katie Guay '05, when they arrive on College Hill."
Ruzzi most recently enjoyed two successful seasons as an assistant coach at Princeton. In her time with the Tigers, Princeton set a program wins record with 26, reached the ECAC tournament final for the first time and won the ECAC tournament title for the first time in 2019-20. Princeton finished the season with three players ranked in the top 12 in the nation in goals and points per game. The ECAC recognized Princeton's success with both Carly Bullock and Sarah Fillier as Best Forward top-three finalists, with Fillier additionally a top-three finalist for Player of the Year. The team qualified for the NCAA quarterfinals, but the event was canceled by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 virus.
"I am grateful to Dr. Grace Calhoun, Kim Insalaco and members of the search committee for the opportunity to lead this storied hockey program," said Ruzzi. "Brown University is a prestigious institution with a uniquely welcoming campus and community. I am proud that I get to introduce Brown to prospective student-athletes and engage the incredible women's hockey alumnae as we work to return the team to the top of the Ivy League and the ECAC. More than anything, I can't wait to get to know the team, build our staff and enjoy every step of the journey we are taking together."
Ruzzi began her coaching career at Division III Amherst College in 2005, where she acted as an assistant coach for two seasons. From 2007-11 she was an assistant coach at Harvard before returning to her alma mater Providence College for six years as associate head coach.
Ruzzi was critical to the turn-around of the Friars program that saw the program return to the national rankings and be one of the most competitive teams in Hockey East. She helped transform the defense from 136 goals allowed to 80 in just two seasons, while also improving the penalty kill from 78.1 percent to 87.1 percent – eighth best in the nation in her final year with Providence College (2017-18). In addition, she coached defender, Whitney Dove, to the Hockey East Rookie of the Year award in 2017.
Her involvement in hockey exceeds the collegiate ranks. She has been involved with USA Hockey since 2006, and is currently an assistant coach for the USA U18 Championship Team. In addition, Ruzzi has held various roles at National Development and District Camps.
A 2003 graduate of Providence College, Ruzzi was team captain in 2002-03 and captured Hockey East Honorable Mention honors as well as national all-academic accolades. She helped the Friars to the ECAC Eastern title as a junior and the inaugural Hockey East title in 2003.
"We are delighted to welcome Mel to the Brown Athletics community," said Calhoun. "Through her background locally at Providence College, in addition to her experience at three Ivy League institutions and USA Hockey, Mel quickly rose to the top of an extremely strong and competitive candidate pool. We feel that she is the perfect fit to restore Brown women's ice hockey to prominence and cannot wait to welcome her, along with her partner Katie Guay '05, when they arrive on College Hill."
Ruzzi most recently enjoyed two successful seasons as an assistant coach at Princeton. In her time with the Tigers, Princeton set a program wins record with 26, reached the ECAC tournament final for the first time and won the ECAC tournament title for the first time in 2019-20. Princeton finished the season with three players ranked in the top 12 in the nation in goals and points per game. The ECAC recognized Princeton's success with both Carly Bullock and Sarah Fillier as Best Forward top-three finalists, with Fillier additionally a top-three finalist for Player of the Year. The team qualified for the NCAA quarterfinals, but the event was canceled by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 virus.
"I am grateful to Dr. Grace Calhoun, Kim Insalaco and members of the search committee for the opportunity to lead this storied hockey program," said Ruzzi. "Brown University is a prestigious institution with a uniquely welcoming campus and community. I am proud that I get to introduce Brown to prospective student-athletes and engage the incredible women's hockey alumnae as we work to return the team to the top of the Ivy League and the ECAC. More than anything, I can't wait to get to know the team, build our staff and enjoy every step of the journey we are taking together."
Ruzzi began her coaching career at Division III Amherst College in 2005, where she acted as an assistant coach for two seasons. From 2007-11 she was an assistant coach at Harvard before returning to her alma mater Providence College for six years as associate head coach.
Ruzzi was critical to the turn-around of the Friars program that saw the program return to the national rankings and be one of the most competitive teams in Hockey East. She helped transform the defense from 136 goals allowed to 80 in just two seasons, while also improving the penalty kill from 78.1 percent to 87.1 percent – eighth best in the nation in her final year with Providence College (2017-18). In addition, she coached defender, Whitney Dove, to the Hockey East Rookie of the Year award in 2017.
Her involvement in hockey exceeds the collegiate ranks. She has been involved with USA Hockey since 2006, and is currently an assistant coach for the USA U18 Championship Team. In addition, Ruzzi has held various roles at National Development and District Camps.
A 2003 graduate of Providence College, Ruzzi was team captain in 2002-03 and captured Hockey East Honorable Mention honors as well as national all-academic accolades. She helped the Friars to the ECAC Eastern title as a junior and the inaugural Hockey East title in 2003.
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