Union College Director of Athletics Jim McLaughlin ’93 has named Claudia Asano Head Women’s Ice Hockey Coach. Asano, who was an assistant coach at Harvard University for the past five seasons, will begin duties on May 3, 2007. She replaces Tim Gerrish, who resigned at the completion of the 2006-07 season.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Claudia as the next head coach of the Union women’s hockey program,” said McLaughlin. “She is a demonstrated leader as evidenced by her accomplishments as a student-athlete and coach within Harvard’s program. We’re fortunate to have someone of her caliber to lead our program and I am confident that we will progress quickly under her leadership.”
During her tenure at Harvard, Asano served as the top assistant to Head Coach Katey Stone. She worked primarily with the Crimson’s defense and led Harvard’s recruiting efforts, securing Olympic, All-America, All-ECACHL and All-Ivy League players. Asano helped lead the Crimson to the NCAA Frozen Four finals from 2003-05, three ECACHL tournament championships from 2004-06, three Beanpot championships and two Ivy League titles.
“I’m truly excited about coming to Union College to lead the women’s ice hockey program,” said Asano. “I thank the College for the opportunity to begin my head coaching career at such a tremendous academic institution and I look forward to working with the current and future student-athletes.”
A 1999 graduate of Harvard University, Asano was a three-year letter-winner for the women’s hockey team. She captained the 1999 squad to the ECACHL regular-season and tournament championship and the American Women’s College Hockey Alliance Division I title. Asano also earned three letters in lacrosse at Harvard, serving as captain in her senior season when she was named second team All-Ivy.
As an active member of USA Hockey, Asano has coached at three development camps, including the 2003 and 2006 Girls’ Select 14 camps in Rochester, NY, and will coach at the Girls’ Select 15 camp this summer in St. Cloud, MN. She also serves as the director of the Claudia Asano Hockey School, a hockey day camp for girls ages 8-18 based in Hamilton, MA, and Hooksett, NH.
Before joining Stone’s staff at Harvard, Asano was the Associate Director of Athletics at the Middlesex School in Concord, MA, where she taught European History while serving as the head junior varsity women’s lacrosse coach and the assistant coach for varsity field hockey and ice hockey.
A native of Concord, MA, Asano will earn her master’s degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education in June of 2007.
