University of Minnesota Athletics
Alum Brausen Joins Coaching Staff
9/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS -The University of Minnesota women's hockey program and head coach Brad Frost are pleased to announce the addition of alumna Bethany Brausen as the program's new assistant coach.
"We are so excited to welcome Bethany to our Gopher coaching staff," Frost said. "Bethany's fire for coaching has been evident the last two years, and her priority of helping players develop as people has always been unwavering."
Brausen, a native of Roseville, Minn., who competed for the Gophers from 2010-11 to 2013-14, fills an open position left by Nadine Muzerall, who recently accepted a position as head coach of the women's hockey program at Ohio State University.
"As a graduate of our program, I have realized how much Gopher women's hockey runs in your blood," Brausen said. "I have felt so much loyalty for the program even after graduating, it just sticks with you in a lot of ways. Staying connected with the program even in small ways has been a privilege over the last couple years, and getting the chance to serve as an assistant coach is an honor. I don't know that I could find words sufficient to describe how grateful and excited I am for the opportunity."
Over the last two seasons, Brausen has served as an assistant coach with the Breck High School girls' hockey program where she worked with the team's forwards to develop offensive skills and provided mentorship and mental skills development with all players. She also served as co-head coach in the Minnesota Elite League, teaching game skill and strategy and provided insight on recruitment, college hockey, and scholarship opportunities with top end players from Minnesota's high school league.
Brausen also brings eight years of experience as a hockey mentor and instructor with OS Hockey in Roseville, Minn., where she has aided in individual physical skill development as well as mental strength; developed athletes' knowledge and execution of on-ice and dry land training; and designed and led practices intended to enhance individual and team development.
As a four-year letterwinner and two-time captain with the Gophers, Brausen was part of back-to-back national championship teams in 2012 and 2013 along with Minnesota's national runner-up team in 2014. She helped the Gophers to a 139-17-5 (.879) record during her career, including an NCAA-record 62-game winning streak. Minnesota won three-straight WCHA Final Face-off titles in Brausen's sophomore, junior, and senior years and earned two WCHA regular season titles during her time. A three-time WCHA Scholar Athlete, Academic All-WCHA and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Brausen played in 161 career games while recording 51 points on 16 goals and 35 assists for the Gophers.
"Bethany won two national championships, served as a two-year captain, and showed passion and leadership beyond her years during her time as a player," Frost said. "She co-captained our 2013 undefeated national championship team and was an integral part of helping develop our culture to where it is today."
Since graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2014 with a degree in psychology, Brausen has also interned with Premier Sport Psychology and JSA Advising to further her knowledge and experience in sport psychology and the mental implications in sport. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Counseling Student Personnel Psychology at the University of Minnesota and is expected to graduate in May 2017.
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