Syracuse University names Smith ice hockey head coach

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University announced it has hired Britni Smith as the new head coach of the women’s ice-hockey program, replacing the retired Paul Flanagan who led the program for its first 14 years of existence.

Smith — a native of Port Perry, Ontario — comes to Syracuse from Clarkson University, where she served on the coaching staff for the three-time NCAA Champion Golden Knights. A 2010 graduate of St. Lawrence University, Smith was an assistant at Clarkson for eight years and has served in a number of coaching roles with Hockey Canada since 2014.

“Britni is a highly regarded coach who is a proven recruiter and has experience as an assistant coach for two national championship teams and as a coach with Hockey Canada,” Syracuse University Director of Athletics John Wildhack said in a statement. “She is incredibly detailed and prepared and has excellent communication skills. Britni is a rising star in the coaching profession. We are excited to have her lead our program.”

No contract terms were disclosed by Syracuse for its new coaching hire.

At Clarkson, Smith played a vital role in helping Clarkson to a 207-60-26 record, including four 30-win seasons, three ECAC Hockey regular-season titles, three conference-tournament crowns, seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament, showings in four consecutive Frozen Fours (2016-2019) and back-to-back NCAA national championships (2017 and 2018).

Smith started her coaching career as a top assistant coach at the University of Toronto (2012-14), where she helped lead the Varsity Blues to a 21-9 overall record, prior to going to Clarkson for the 2014-15 season.

As a standout student-athlete at St. Lawrence, Smith played in 146 games, recording 74 points on 20 goals and 54 assists from 2006-2010. She played professionally in the CWHL for the Toronto Furies from 2010-14, serving as captain for the 2014 CWHL Champions. She also played for Hockey Canada’s Under-22 national team from 2006-10. Smith earned a degree in psychology with a minor in sports and exercise science at St. Lawrence, where she played for two seasons for former head coach Paul Flanagan, who came to Syracuse to start the Orange program in 2008-09.

After 14 years at the helm of the Syracuse ice-hockey program, Flanagan  announced his retirement on March 23, 2022. He spent 23 seasons as a head coach and 38 years in the sport as a player and coach in the collegiate ranks