Chelsea Walkland enters her fifth season as an assistant coach with the Robert Morris University women's hockey team. In August of 2014, head coach Paul Colontino hired the former Colonial to his staff as an assistant.
Walkland spent 2012-13 and 2013-14 as the top assistant coach at the State University of New York at Oswego – commonly known as Oswego State. Under her leadership, Oswego State – which competes in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) West in NCAA Division III – reached new heights as a program, breaking the school record for wins in a season with 12 in 2012-13 and 17 in 2013-14. The Lakers also finished third in the ECAC West last season, which marked their highest finish ever in conference.
Walkland played for the Colonials from 2006-2010, serving as an assistant captain during her junior and senior seasons. A three-time College Hockey America (CHA) All-Academic Team honoree, she finished her career with 41 points (17G, 24A) in a program record 140 games played. On Feb. 7, 2009 against Sacred Heart, Walkland tallied a goal and five assists in a 12-0 win over the Pioneers. Her assist total in that contest still stands as the second best in a single game at RMU.
After her playing days, Walkland returned to Robert Morris as the hockey operations manager from 2010 to 2011. Afterward, she began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant with the Rochester Institute of Technology, spending one season with the Tigers before moving to her previous coaching position at Oswego State. Walkland found success in her lone year at RIT, helping the Colonials’ now conference rival to a 28-1-1 record and Division III national championship in 2011-12.
Walkland has also worked with USA Hockey, serving as the New York State District Evaluator in March of 2012 and as a U16/U17 Player Development Camp Intern Coach in July of the same year.
A native of Pittsford, N.Y., Walkland graduated from Robert Morris in 2010 with her Bachelor’s degree in business administration. She later earned a Master’s degree in instructional leadership at RMU in 2011.
