Connolly Joins Women’s Hockey Staff as Assistant Coach

HANOVER, N.H. – On Thursday, Head Coach of Dartmouth Women's Hockey Maura Crowell announced Tara Connolly will join the Big Green as an assistant coach.

"Thank you to Maura Crowell and Athletic Director Mike Harrity for the opportunity to join the Dartmouth Women's Hockey program. Dartmouth is a prestigious academic institution in a beautiful location with a proud history in women's hockey," Connolly said. "I am delighted to get working alongside the staff and eager to restore the program to its tradition of excellence. Additionally, I am supremely grateful to Bryan Vines and want to thank everybody in the RPI Athletics community for the past seven years."

Connolly has spent the last seven years behind the bench at RPI, serving as an assistant coach for the Engineers, focusing on defense, goaltenders, and the penalty kill. She also led the program's recruiting efforts.

"Tara joins the Dartmouth Hockey staff with seven years of experience working in the ECAC. Her knowledge of the league will allow her to step right into this position and make an immediate impact not only on the current student-athletes, but also the future of the program through her extensive recruiting network," Crowell said. "We cannot wait for Tara to join us and continue our positive momentum heading into the 2024-25 season."

While at RPI, Connolly elevated the play of two goaltenders, Amanda Rampado and Lovisa Selander. Rampado was a Top-11 Semifinalist for National Goaltender of the Year while Selander became RPI's first Patty Kazmaier Award Top-10 finalist, finishing her collegiate career with the NCAA career saves record. Selander also played internationally with the Swedish National Team, was a first-round draft pick to the Boston Pride in 2019 and collected goaltender of the year honors during her rookie season.

In addition to impacting the netminders, Connolly helped return the Engineers to conference and national prominence. During her second season, RPI won 14 games, their most victories in almost a decade, securing the No. 8 seed in the ECAC Hockey playoffs. They went on to beat No. 1 Cornell to be the first No. 8 seed to win a playoff game.

After the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020-21 season, the Engineers returned with wins over two ranked opponents and earned voted in national polls.

Since 2015, Connolly has also been involved with USA Hockey, nationally and regionally. She coaches at the National Select Camps each summer, acts as the Camp Coaching Director of the Rocky Mountain District, and provides insight to the U18 national team.

Prior to her time in New York, Connolly was an assistant coach at Wesleyan University, mainly working with defenseman, goaltenders, and focusing on recruiting. She also coached the women's lacrosse team, sticking with goaltenders and defense.

Connolly, a 2013 Bowdoin College graduate, played 38 games in goal for the Polar Bears, posting a 21-11-3 record, a .914 save percentage and led them to the NESCAC Championship her senior year. She was also a four-year starter in goal for their lacrosse team, setting the program record with 49 career wins. Connolly earned a bachelor's degree in history and teaching before earning a master's in liberal studies from Wesleyan in 2016.

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