Mark Bolding of Norwich University is 2017-18 CCM/AHCA Division III Women's Coach of the Year
For leading his team into the NCAA Women's Division III semifinals with a 25-1-3 record, Mark Bolding of Norwich University has been chosen by his peers as the 2018 CCM/AHCA Women's Division III Coach of the Year. It marks the fourth time that Bolding has been so honored, having won this award in three consecutive seasons from 2010-2012.
Bolding and Norwich will host this weekend's event fresh off an 8-2 win over Morrisville to advance to the semifinals. That followed a three-game sweep in the New England Hockey Conference Championship Tournament in which Norwich outscored its opponents 21-1.
Bolding has guided the Cadets to a 243-62-20 record in 11 seasons and has made the Norwich women's hockey team one of the premier programs in the country. He has led Norwich to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, eight NEHC Tournament titles and seven NEHC regular season championships. His 2011 squad won the national championship in just its fourth season of competition.
Prior to his current post, Bolding served two stints as an assistant coach for the Norwich men's hockey team under successful mentor Mike McShane.He started after graduation in 1995 and then, after a few years away from Norwich working in the engineering consulting industry, Bolding returned to Norwich in 1998 to again become an assistant coach to the men's team. During the 1999-2000 season, Bolding helped the Norwich men win its first national championship, with a dramatic 2-1 win over Wisconsin-Superior.
A native of Red Deer, Alberta, Bolding was a standout defenseman during his collegiate playing days at Norwich, serving as the team captain for three of his four seasons. Bolding finished his NU career with 94 points. His 73 assists put him alongside the all-time career assist leaders at the school. In 2005, Bolding was inducted into the Norwich University Athletic Hall of Fame.
A 1995 Norwich graduate, Bolding holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He was a member of Chi Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi fraternities during his undergraduate days. He held engineering positions in Chicago, Boston and Montpelier, Vt., before returning to Norwich University as the Director of Engineering Admissions.
Bolding and his wife Kari (also a NU graduate) reside in Northfield with their five children: Christian, Corinne, Dayne, Kylee and Makenna. Bolding was assisted this season by Mollie Fitzpatrick, Jon Guiffre and Maggie DiMasi. The runner-up for this year's award was Natalie Darwitz of Hamline University, Norwich's opponent in Friday's NCAA semifinal.
The CCM AHCA COACH of the YEAR AWARDS are sponsored by CCM HOCKEY and chosen by members of the AMERICAN
HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION. CCM is the legendary hockey brand dedicated to the endless pursuit of performance by delivering
game-changing, head-to-toe innovative hockey equipment to players worldwide. Bolding will receive his award at the annual AHCA Celebration
of Women's Ice Hockey Banquet, scheduled for Friday, April 27, during the AHCA Convention in Naples, FL.
| Winners of the Women's Division III Coach of the Year Award | |
| 2000 | Ted Wisner, Colgate |
| 2001 | Bill Mandigo, Middlebury |
| 2002 | Jamie Wood, Elmira |
| 2003 | Michele Amidon, Bowdoin |
| 2004 | Bill Mandigo, Middlebury |
| 2005 | Bill Mandigo, Middlebury |
| 2006 | Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh State |
| 2007 | Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh State |
| 2008 | Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh State |
| 2009 | Jim Plumer. Amherst College |
| 2010 | Mark Bolding, Norwich |
| 2011 | Mark Bolding, Norwich |
| 2012 | Mark Bolding, Norwich |
| 2013 | Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh State |
| 2014 | Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh State |
| 2015 | Dean Jackson, Elmira |
| 2016 | Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh State |
| 2017 | Chad Davis, Adrian College |
| 2018 | Mark Bolding, Norwich |
