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Ohio State hires 4-time Olympian Jenny Potter to be women's hockey head coach

The four-time Olympian and all-time UMD scorer has spent the past two seasons coaching at Division 3 Trinity College.

By Nathan Wells
Potter now takes over a red and white team.
Potter now takes over a red and white team.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most successful players in women's hockey history is taking over in Columbus.

Ohio State announced Sunday that it has hired four-time Olympian Jenny Potter to be the school's third ever women's hockey head coach.

Potter replaces Nate Handrahan, who resigned last month following sexual harassment complaints.

"I am very excited for this opportunity," Potter said in a statement released by the University. "The Ohio State University has a storied tradition of academic and athletic excellence, and I look forward to contributing to this standard of excellence. I am proud to be a Buckeye, and I look forward to coaching and mentoring these young women."

Potter, who comes to Columbus after coaching Division 3 Trinity College (CT) the past two seasons, has a wealth of playing experience. The Eagan, MN native is a four-time All-American in college (1998-99 with Minnesota and 1999-2000 & 2002-2004 with Minnesota Duluth). In addition to winning a national championship with UMD in 2003, Potter (nee Schmidgall) remains the Bulldogs' all-time leading point scorer with 256 (108 G-148 A).

Internationally she represented the United States in four Olympics, winning a Gold Medal in 1998, and served as the captain of the 2010 team.

Ohio State (17-16-3 in 2014-15) finished last season sixth (of eight teams) in the WCHA with 40 points. Despite finishing in the bottom half of the standings, the Buckeyes began the second half with a six game winning streak and challenged all of the top teams. OSU ended the year defeating a Frozen Four bound Wisconsin team and gave Minnesota fits with an aggressive forecheck, coming back from a two goal deficit to tie the eventual national champions at Ridder Arena.

Potter will take over a team which graduates many of its top players, but brings in one of the top players in the country in defenseman Jincy Dunne. Almost making the 2014 US Olympic team at the age of 16, Dunne captained the 2015 US U-18 team to gold and scored the overtime winning gold.