Elmira has announced the appointment of Kelsea Martalock as new women’s head coach.
Martalock had previously been the Soaring Eagles’ assistant coach.
“I am pleased to announce the promotion of Kelsea Martalock from assistant ice hockey coach to her new role as head coach,” said Elmira VP of athletics Pat Thompson in a statement. “Her past experiences in Division III hockey as a player and assistant coach, along with her knowledge and dedication to our program, positioned her to take over the reins after Coach [Dean] Jackson’s departure. Coach Martalock’s philosophy aligns with our established women’s ice hockey tradition and her involvement in recruiting this past season and for our next class in 2017 is notable. Additionally, her certification as strength and conditioning Coach is not only a benefit for the women’s ice hockey team, but for our department as a whole.”
“I am very honored to have the opportunity to continue the history of excellence that has been known as Elmira College women’s hockey,” added Martalock. “Coach Jackson established a culture of academic and athletic success and I am looking forward to continue that tradition with our program. I want to thank Coach Jackson for taking me on as his assistant a year ago and mentoring me to prepare me to be a head coach. I also want to think Pat Thompson for the opportunity and the support to lead our team to another successful season.”
Martalock becomes the fifth women’s coach in the program’s 15-year history, after the Soaring Eagles produced their fifth consecutive 20-win season and the team’s fourth straight NCAA Division III tournament appearance.
“I think the opportunity to transition from assistant to the head within the team will be a huge benefit for the program,” stated Martalock. “Having worked with Coach Jackson for a year, I am familiar with the culture and history of the program, I know the direction we will need to go, and I know what our team will need to do to accomplish another national title. I want to keep Elmira women’s hockey as an elite program and I am very excited and thankful to have the opportunity to do so.”
Prior to her time as an assistant with the Soaring Eagles, Martalock served as the assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach at St. Norbert.
A 2012 graduate of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Martalock also spent time as an assistant coach with her alma mater from 2012-14 as the strength and conditioning coach, while completing her master’s degree. She played her first two seasons of collegiate hockey at Bethel before transferring to UWSP.
