Adrian College women's hockey loses coach Shawn Skelly to NCAA Division I

ADRIAN — It's been a busy summer for Adrian College and its men's and women's hockey programs.

First came the men's winningest and national champion head coach Adam Krug departing for the AHL and Thursday it was announced his longtime friend, women's head coach Shawn Skelly , is stepping down for a job in NCAA Division I hockey.

"It has been a true blessing to have the chance to lead this program for the past six years," Skelly said in a press release. "The countless wins, championships and memorable experiences this program has provided me and my family is unmeasurable. This may have been the hardest decision of my life."

Skelly, who went 140-22-7 in his six seasons leading the Bulldogs, is leaving for a Division I assistant coaching job, which should be announced in the coming days.

Skelly coached 12 All-Americans and four NCHA Player of the Years while guiding the Bulldogs to two NCAA Division III Women's Frozen Fours and qualified for two other NCAA tournament appearances with one being canceled due to COVID.

Adrian also won the NCHA regular season title in each of his six seasons, including a 20-0-1 season in 2020-21 where the postseason was canceled due to COVID.

Prior to leading the women's program, he was an assistant with Krug on the men's team and also under his predecessor Chad Davis on the women's side. He took over for Davis after he left to lead in the NCAA Division I Rochester Institute of Technology and is now the head coach at Division III St. Mary's University of Minnesota.

Prior to coaching, Skelly was a standout on the ice for the Bulldogs, helping kickstart the men's program alongside Krug on the inaugural team under head coach Ron Fogarty and one point held the men's records in career points, goals, game-winning goals, power-play goals, assists and shots on goals.

He also had a stint in the ECHL before returning to Adrian to coach.

Skelly's wife Ashley (Marinacci) led the Adrian College softball program for seven seasons from 2016-22.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian College women's hockey loses coach Shawn Skelly to NCAA Division I