She is arguably the most well known name in Minnesota women’s hockey history.
Natalie Darwitz, the all-time leading scorer in the history of the University of Minnesota and a multi-decorated player on the international scene, returns for her second season as the head coach of the Hamline University women’s hockey program.
Her first year behind the bench with the Pipers saw the team finish with a 9-13-3 record. It was the most wins by a HU contingent in nearly a decade. In addition to the wins, HU finished strong with a tie against perennial power Gustavus Adolphus on the final day of the season. It marked the first time ever the Pipers had ever snared a point from the Gusties and knocked them out of the playoffs in the process.
Things went even better in her second season. The Pipers 10-8 in MIAC play, finishing in fifth place, qualifying for the MIAC playoffs for the first time in a decade. HU went 12-13-1 overall, the second best output in school history.
The Eagan, Minn. native has been part of the Minnesota hockey scene for nearly two decades. She first burst into the public eye as a seventh grader skating for Eagan High School. The Wiildcats advanced to the state championship game that year. By the time she was done with her prep career, she had amassed a remarkable 487 points in 102 career games.
She was a three-time All-American at the University of Minnesota (where she was a part of two national title teams) and is the school’s all-time leader in points scored with 246. She also has had considerable success on the world stage, representing the United States in three Olympics, eight World Tournaments and ten 4 Nations Cup events. She has been a captain of several of those teams, a member of five gold-medal winning teams and was named 2005 Woman Player of the Year by USA Hockey.
She entered the coaching world as an assistant to her father Scott at her prep alma mater. (Scott will return as an assistant at Hamline this year as well.) She went on to be an assistant at the U of Minnesota for two seasons before taking the head job at Lakeville South four years ago. The Cougars went 79-25-10 under her guidance, including a 24-6-1 record and a berth in the MSHSL Class AA Girls’ Hockey tournament in 2015.
Natalie resides in Apple Valley with her husband, Chris, son Joseph and Ethan and their dog Oakley.
Natalie Darwitz Hamline Coaching Numbers:
| Year |
Overall |
MIAC |
Postseason |
| 2015-16 |
9-13-3 |
6-10-2 |
|
| 2016-17 |
12-13-1 |
10-8-0 |
0-1 |
| Totals |
21-26-4 |
16-18-2 |
0-1 |
