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, is taking on a new challenge as the head coach of the Hamline University women’s hockey program.
The Eagan, MN 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 in102 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 10 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 be 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 this past season.
Natalie resides in Apple Valley with her husband, Chris, son Joseph (who was born in July) and their dog Oakley
