The first coach of the Middlebury women’s varsity ice hockey team was Walter “Duke” Nelson in the 1981-1982 season. In his first season he led the team to a 7-8-0 record, getting the program off to a solid start.

Bobby Ritter became the head coach of the women’s ice hockey team at the start of the 1982-1983 season. In his first season, Ritter led the team to a 7-6-1 record. In Ritter’s second season, he coached the team to an improved 10-5 record. Ritter remained as coach until the 1986-1987 season and amassed a record of 34-23-2 over five seasons.

Mike Gerber was hired as head coach for the 1987-1988 season and coached the team to an 11-3-0 record.

Since arriving at Middlebury in 1988, coach Bill Mandigo has established himself as one of the premier coaches in women’s ice hockey. He has twice been named ECAC Coach of the Year, in 1996 and 2001; twice been named the NESCAC Coach of the Year, in 2004 and 2011; and three times been named the AHCA National Coach of the Year, in 2001, 2004, and 2005. Mandigo has amassed a record of 480-123-30.