SNC preparing to add women's hockey

DE PERE - From hosting the American Cup speedskating championship to preparing the St. Norbert men's hockey team for the Frozen Four, the Resch Olympic Pavilion is about to get a little busier.

"After the Cornerstone decided to put in the Olympic sheet, that made it feasible to look at it realistically," St. Norbert athletic director Tim Bald said of adding women's hockey. The college plans to start the program in 2010-11.

Current men's head coach Tim Coghlin took over the fledgling St. Norbert program 16 seasons ago.

"When I came here, this was not recognized for hockey," Coghlin said.

Working out of a trailer at the beginning, Coghlin has built the men's team into a national power. The new women's team will have the added benefit of feeding off the highly successful men's program. Last year the Green Knights won the NCAA Division III national championship. Overall, they've made 10 NCAA tournament appearances.

"That's the blueprint, the template," Bald said. "Obviously, we don't have to start with a trailer and start with growing pains that (Coghlin) had. His success is enabling the women's hockey program to start where we're at."

The first step is for Bald to hire a head coach, which he hopes to do within the next few months.

"You can have a really good hockey team in place by bringing someone in and starting them in August. Giving them one entire calendar year makes all the difference in the world."

Along with recruiting and purchasing equipment, the new coach will also have to figure out how to build a winning program.

It will have pretty high standards to contend with.

"Don't know if we can bring more attention," Coghlin said. "If they win a national championship, then I guess so."