Middlebury, VT – October 13, 2023 – Emily McNamara, a women's hockey assistant coach at Middlebury College, died Friday following a serious car crash in March.
McNamara, a Middlebury alumna, was critically injured when her SUV collided with a construction truck on Route 74 in Cornwall amid snowy conditions, according to Vermont State Police. She had served as head coach of women's hockey at Hamilton College prior to returning to Middlebury.
In a statement, Middlebury President Ian Baucom expressed condolences to McNamara's family and the athletics community, stating, “Emily's husband Dave, all her family, her colleagues, the students on the team, and everyone who knew her are deeply in our hearts.”
Tributes from the women's college hockey community have poured in, with Hamilton College's women's hockey team honoring McNamara as a mentor and supporter. “Coach Mac's legacy lives on in every player she coached and every life she touched along the way,” they said.
During her coaching career, McNamara earned recognition as the Division III Coach of the Year for the 2022-23 season by the American Hockey Coaches Association and the United States College Hockey Online. Earlier in her career, she contributed to two conference titles and semifinal appearances with Middlebury while serving as an assistant coach from 2008 to 2011.
As a player, McNamara won three consecutive national titles with the Panthers, contributing to a remarkable record of 100 wins, 13 losses, and 3 ties.