Miami Women’s Hockey was founded in the spring of 2010. Senior Natalie Dillon, junior Jess Wood and first year student Liz Wardlow approached the university administration with a proposal for a women’s team. With Miami’s success in men’s hockey, an enthusiastic core group of student-athletes, and one of the top facilities in the country, the proposal was well-recieved and the program was born in September of the 2010/2011 school year. Goggin Ice Center Director Kevin Ackley landed Scott Hicks as head coach. Scott has a long history in hockey in the lower midwest as a player, referee, and coach. Assistant coaches Jim Stearns and Nolan Peduto were added to the staff in the fall of 2010.
The 2010-2011 season saw the Lady RedHawks play seven exhibition games finishing with a record of 1-6. More importantly, Miami Women’s Hockey established itself as a viable program in the eyes of the women’s hockey community. Miami applied for and received membership in the CCWHA in the summer of 2011 joining Michigan State, Ohio State, Robert Morris, Western Michigan, Northern Michigan, Grand Valley State, and Michigan in the premier college club league in the country.
2011-2012 marked Miami’s first full campaign. The RedHawks started fast notching victories over Buffalo, Colorado State, and a championship game win over Ohio State in the Buffalo Invitational Tournament in October – Miami’s first women’s hockey championship. Miami’s sixth place finish in the league and a national ranking of 13th clearly established the RedHawks as an up-and-coming program. In 2012-2013, Miami improved to 12-12-5-1 and a national ranking of 12th.
The 2013-2014 season saw Miami surge to the top of both the CCWHA and nation as the Lady RedHawks took the league regular season and playoff titles and capped that with their first ever ACHA National Championship. Miami finished the 2013-2014 campaign with an astounding 30-2-3 record and were ranked number one in both the coaches poll and computer rankings for the entire season.