University of Massachusetts Boston Interim Athletic Director Pat Burns announced on Monday, September 27, that the University has named Melisa Heitzman as its Head Women’s Ice Hockey Coach.

Heitzman is not a stranger to the Beacons’ program, having served as an assistant coach over the past year. She is also very familiar with both coaching and playing at the college level. Prior to her time at UMass Boston, she spent time on the The College of the Holy Cross coaching staff and starred at the University of New Hampshire as a player.

Prior to her coaching career, the native of Minnesota played ice hockey for four years with UNH, where she helped the Wildcats to a pair of NCAA Division I national championships. She was elected Assistant Captain for the 1998-99 season for UNH and in 1999-2000 she had the honor of playing for the United States National Team. Heitzman spent a season with the Brampton Thunder of the National Women’s Hockey League as well.

Heitzman graduated UNH with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in psychology and currently resides in West Roxbury.