NORTHFIELD, Vt. – An emotional Coach Sophie Leclerc Doherty, Norwich University Class of 2010, announces she is stepping away from coaching:

It has been an absolute honor to lead this program and to work with such dedicated and talented student-athletes. Norwich has been my home for many years—as a player, an assistant coach, and most recently as head coach. This program means so much to me and stepping away is not an easy decision. However, at this time, my focus needs to be on my growing family.
 
Hockey has given me so much over the years, but the relationship built within this program are what I will cherish the most. Seeing our student-athletes develop as players, leaders, and people has been the most rewarding part of my time here. I am incredibly grateful to have coached such hardworking and driven young women who represent Norwich with pride.
 
I want to thank the Norwich University administration, the athletic department, my fellow coaches, and—most importantly—our players for their trust and commitment. Norwich will always be a part of who I am, and I will continue to support this program and its future success.

Her heartfelt decision comes as she and her husband, Pat, are filled with excited anticipation as they look forward to welcoming their second child in the coming weeks. Norwich Director of Athletics Ed Hockenbury supports her and her family through this difficult decision:

All of us at Norwich understand and support Sophie's decision and are happy she will be able to spend more time with Pat, their son Jett, and the newest addition to their wonderful family. It has been a privilege to have Sophie at Norwich.
 
It is hard to imagine anyone contributing as much to our school and hockey program. As a student, an athlete, assistant coach and head coach, Sophie has been an integral part of our University and women's hockey program for many years. It is rare that one of the best players in a school's history goes on to be one of its finest coaches.
 
I valued her knowledge, passion and competitive drive on the ice. I admired her perspective on the priority of academics. I appreciated her genuine love for Norwich and the way she communicated that in recruiting. Perhaps most of all, I recognized and valued the incredibly important role she played as a strong female leader and role model for the young women in our program. They all learned so much from her, and she will be greatly missed.

The Norwich University Class of 2010 alumna recently completed her sixth season as the Cadets' head coach. Doherty began her Norwich coaching career when she was appointed as the second women's hockey head coach in Cadet history in May 2019, replacing fellow Norwich Hall of Famer Mark Bolding. During her phenomenal coaching tenure at her alma mater, she amassed an amazing 106-35-6 record that included capturing three regular season conference titles and two conference tournament championships while leading the program to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. She was instrumental, on an individual level as well, mentoring Amanda Conway '20, who earned the program's second Laura Hurd Award, the Division III National Player of the Year.
 
"Sophie has meant so much to the NU women's hockey program since its varsity inception in 2007," said Coach Bolding, former Norwich head coach and current women's hockey head coach at Yale University. "Her incredible playing career revealed just how competitive and talented she was on the ice while serving as the leader and spark plug for the team."
 
The four-year standout at Norwich helped build the program from the ground up. Her impressive resume culminated in leading Norwich women's hockey to their first national championship in 2011. Doherty's impact on the program can further be seen in the Norwich record books as she capped her career ranked in nearly every offensive category. Among her many accolades for her stellar play on the ice, she was named the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Player of the Year, New England Division III Player of the Year, American Hockey Coaches Association First Team All-American, and was the runner up for the Laura Hurd Award given to the National Division III Player of the Year.
 
"I am very proud of her many accomplishments as a player and coach," said Bolding. "Through her career, Sophie has consistently displayed a remarkable level of commitment, passion, and true love for Norwich hockey and the entire NU community. She will be missed but remains one of the pillars of the program."
 
Coach Doherty leaves the hockey program in a strong position. The 2024-25 NEHC regular season champions and tournament runner-up will be members of the Little East Conference (LEC) inaugural season for women's hockey in 2025-26. Norwich University women's hockey carries a strong national reputation, supportive administration, loyal and generous alumni, and an outstanding group of returning players. Kreitzberg Arena, the on-campus home facility for the Cadets, is one of the finest in the country with seating for 1,500 fans. The arena has been the host site for multiple NCAA Tournament games, hosting the NCAA Division III men's ice hockey championships in 1999, 2003, and 2004, along with the 2018 NCAA Division III women's ice hockey championship that saw the Cadets celebrate their second national championship on their home ice.
 
Norwich will immediately begin a national search for the next head coach who will carry on the tradition of commitment to continued excellence both on and off the ice.