For 21 seasons the University of Wisconsin-Superior (UWS) women’s hockey team was led by one coach, Dan Laughlin. Retiring after last season, the Yellowjackets would introduce their next bench boss on Tuesday hosting a press conference for Bre Simon.

“I’m a young coach, head coach now, and I think that helps me and them. They know I’ve been in their shoes,” Simon said about her future team. “I graduated in 2020, so not very long ago. I know what it means to be an athlete, a student, a worker, having jobs and stuff.”

Simon brings with her plenty of experience behind the bench. She comes to UWS after a two-year stint as an assistant coach for Elmira College, who this past year finished as NCAA DIII Championship runners-up.

She also spent two years coaching high school hockey in Minnesota for Gentry Academy, leading them to two state tournament appearances.

“It was evident to us that amongst her experiences, both as a player and as a coach, that winning was a significant part,” Nick Bursik said, UWS’ Director of Athletics. “Coach comes with a deep commitment to player and team development, a drive for competitive success that certainly aided her prior experiences, but will also be assets to our student-athletes and program moving forward.”

Simon is an Elk River, Minnesota native and alum of Hamline University women’s hockey. A 2020 graduate, she is still their all-time leader in goals (92), assists (93) and points (185).

UWS finished last season 8-18-1 in the first round of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament.

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