After an illustrious nine year career as head coach of the UMD Women’s hockey team, Maura Crowell has decided to leave the program and coach at Dartmouth.

“I’m moving, but I’m not moving out of their lives,” said Crowell.

Crowell, who grew up in Massachusetts, will return to the Northeast to coach the Big Green, who play in Hanover, New Hampshire.

“Not something that was on my radar necessarily, but something that came my way. And you know, it’s time to get back there,” said Crowell.

Crowell became the second head coach in UMD Women’s Hockey history, taking over for Shannon Miller in 2015.

Since then, Crowell has kept UMD on the national stage, taking the Bulldogs to five NCAA tournament appearances, including each of the previous four.

“It’s hard because the place that this program is in, is exactly where I wanted it to be when I came here back in 2015. We have it cranking, in my opinion,” Crowell said.

Watch the full press conference from Friday, May 31.

The Bulldogs played in back-to-back NCAA Frozen Fours in 2021 and 2022, and finished as runners-up in the 2022, falling to Ohio State.

Crowell led the Bulldogs to a 174-115-28 record over the last nine seasons with a 121-84-23 record in the WCHA.

“It’s awesome to be able to leave a place on top,” said Crowell.

Of the 13 Bulldogs in the PWHL, Crowell coached 12 of them.

UMD Director of Athletics Forrest Karr said that the University will begin a national search for Crowell’s replacement, and Bulldog Associate Head Coach Laura Schuler will serve as the program’s interim head coach. 

“I’m a pretty big believer in having a robust search process,” said Karr. “We’ll probably have a lot of interest. And this is, I think, one of the best few jobs in women’s college hockey.”

“There’s no better hockey town in America. I will stand by that,” Crowell said.