BOSTON - Mollie Fitzpatrick has been named assistant coach of the Boston University women's ice hockey team, head coach Brian Durocher announced on Tuesday.

Fitzpatrick arrives at BU after spending the last six seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Norwich, where she won a national title as both a player and as a coach.

"Our entire staff is excited to welcome Mollie Fitzpatrick as our new assistant hockey coach," Durocher said. "She was a decorated multi-sport athlete at Norwich who has had outstanding success as a collegiate coach with three different programs. Her experience as a coach, a recruiter and a teacher with a championship-level program has prepared her well for what lies ahead here at Boston University. I am certain that she will bring knowledge, confidence and energy to all facets of her job here. At the same time, she will be a fantastic role model for the elite student-athletes within our program. I look forward to the many contributions that she will bring to the proud hockey tradition at BU." 

A 2012 graduate, Fitzpatrick returned to Norwich ahead of the 2015-16 campaign. In her third season behind the Norwich bench, she helped guide the Cadets to the 2018 national title. During her six seasons as an assistant, she helped lead Norwich to four straight NCAA tournaments from 2017 to 2020, including national semifinal berths in 2017 and 2018. The Cadets won at least 20 games in all five full seasons that Fitzpatrick was on the coaching staff and posted a 7-1 mark during the shortened 2020-21 schedule.

Fitzpatrick, who earned a master's degree in organizational leadership from Norwich in 2017, had an integral role in recruiting and coaching one of the most decorated players in NCAA Division III women's hockey history in Amanda Conway. Conway became the program's second Laura Hurd Award winner as the national player of the year, and she was also the first three-time All-American in Norwich history. Fitzpatrick recruited three AHCA All-Americans during her time at Norwich and in 2019-20 she coached the 12th-ranked penalty kill in NCAA Division III. The Cadets led the country with eight shorthanded goals, nearly eclipsing the amount of goals they surrounded while down a player. 

"I want to thank Boston University, Drew Marrochello and Brian Durocher for giving me an opportunity to ingrain myself in the BU community and learn what being a Terrier is all about," Fitzpatrick said. "I am looking forward to making this leap to join such a well-established program and work alongside coaching greats like Durocher and Kerstin Matthews, along with the rest of the BU hockey staff and community. I am eager to get the chance to work with the student-athletes here and get to know them as people. I am excited to take all that that Norwich has given me to Boston University and see what this next chapter has in store."

A four-year standout for the Cadets, Fitzpatrick helped guide Norwich to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and was a member of the Cadets' national championship squad in 2011. She skated in 70 career games, totaling six goals and 13 assists for 19 points splitting time between defense and forward. In her senior season, she established career highs with four goals and five assists for nine points in 22 games played. 

Fitzpatrick was a two-sport athlete at Norwich, also excelling on the lacrosse field. She helped guide Norwich to three straight GNAC championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances while scoring 80 goals and 30 assists for 110 points. 

Prior to her return to Norwich, Fitzpatrick spent one season as an assistant coach at both Endicott and the University of New England.