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Mel Ruzzi

Ruzzi is serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team for the first time. She has been involved with USA Hockey since 2006, including serving as the director of USA Hockey’s multi-district girls camp for the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Districts since 2017.

She is currently in her first season at the helm of Brown University's women's hockey team. Prior to her head coaching role with the Bears, she served as an assistant coach of the Princeton University women’s hockey team where she helped the Tigers to a program-record 26-win campaign, including the school’s first ECAC Tournament championship in the 2019-20 season. The team also qualified for the NCAA quarterfinals. Ruzzi began her coaching career at NCAA Division II Amherst College in 2005, where she was an assistant coach for two seasons. Following that, she served as an assistant coach at Harvard University before returning to her alma mater, Providence College, for six years (2012-18) as an associate coach.

A 2003 graduate of Providence College, Ruzzi was team captain in 2002-03 and captured Hockey East Honorable Mention honors as well as national all-academic accolades. She helped the Friars to the ECAC Eastern title as a junior and the inaugural Hockey East title in 2003.