Molly Engstrom was named the seventh head coach in the University of Maine women's ice hockey history in August of 2022.
A native of Siren, Wisconsin, Engstrom heads into her third season with the Black Bears in Orono. She's a two-time member of the United States women's Olympic Team and a member of Team USA at six IIHF World Women's Championships from 2004 to 2011 and helped Team USA win IIHF World Championships in 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2011, along with silver medals in 2004 and 2007. Engstrom was named the Best Defenseman at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
In her first year at Maine, Engstrom was runner-up for Hockey East Coach of the Year. Prior to Maine, Engstrom coached at St. Cloud State for three years from 2019-2022 where she led a strong defensive core. She played and coached in the Swedish Women's Professional Hockey League (SDHL) from 2016 to 2018, and helped her team Djurgarden IF win the SDHL championship in 2017. She served as the girls' varsity hockey head coach and assistant athletic director at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H. from 2014-2016.
In addition to her professional playing and coaching experience in Sweden, Engstrom played professional hockey with teams in Minnesota, Toronto, Boston and Connecticut in the CWHL and NWHL from 2007 to 2016. She helped her Brampton-Canadette Thunder team win the CWHL title in 2008 and Minnesota Whitecaps title in 2009.
A 2007 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Engstrom played collegiate hockey in the WCHA with the Badgers. She received First Team All-American honors while at Wisconsin and was also named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005. She was selected as a Patty Kazmaier Award top 10 finalist in 2005. Â
She went on to receive a Masters of Sports Administration from the Russian International Olympic University in 2014.
Engstrom most recently served as an assistant coach with USA Hockey's U22 Women's Collegiate Team in August of 2024. Additionally, she has served as an assistant coach with Team USA's Women's Senior National Team for the Rivalry Series against Canada in 2022.
COACHING CAREER HONORS:
Hockey East Coach of the Year - Runner Up - 2022/23
SEASONS UNDER COACH ENGSTROM:
2022-23 Season Record: 15-18-2 (12-13-2 HEA)
-Most conference wins in program history (tied with 21/22 season)
-Tied for most shutouts in a single season (6)
-Produced one professional player - Ally Johnson (SDHL)
-Beat four nationally ranked opponents
2023-24 Season Record: 15-18-2 (11-14-2 HEA)
-First time in history for a UMaine player to earn Hockey East Scoring Champion of the Year - Ida Kuoppala (21g, 18a)
-Tied for most road wins in a season (9)
-Best Power Play % in program history (21.8%)
-Produced three professional players - Rahel Enzler, Ida Kuoppala, Ann-Frederique Guay
-Beat five nationally ranked opponentsÂ
