By Trevor Sheehan
Kim Weiss made a name for herself at Trinity College, breaking school records and helping lead the women’s hockey team to their first NCAA Division III championship appearance. Twelve years later, Weiss has returned to her alma mater, becoming the first female to coach men’s hockey at the Division III level.
Growing up in Potomac, Maryland, Weiss’ love for hockey started when her older brother introduced her to the sport. This passion continued into high school when Weiss played club hockey for the Washington Pride, a college preparatory team based in Washington, D.C.
“There was not much high school hockey for girls in Maryland,” said Weiss. “We traveled all over the US to compete.”
Weiss drew interest from collegiate programs at all three levels. With decision time approaching, she chose between taking a “lesser role” at a Division I program or playing Division III. Education was important to Weiss and her family, which piqued her interest in playing at a NESCAC school. Middlebury and Trinity were her final two choices, and Weiss chose Trinity, ultimately becoming one of the greatest players in their program’s history. Weiss achieved much success during her four years with the Bantams, holding school records for most career points (108), most career goals (62), and most goals in a single season (22).
In 2011, she became a Division III First Team All-American and was awarded NESCAC Player of the Year. She was also a finalist for the Laura Hurd Award as the Division III Player of the Year that same season. The Bantams held a record of 70-22-11 while Weiss was there, appearing in the Division III tournament for the first time in program history and making the NESCAC Championship game in 2010.
After graduating in 2011, Weiss got her first job with the Pomfret School in Connecticut, coaching hockey and lacrosse. She was also an admissions officer with the school.
“I kinda knew once I graduated that coaching was something I wanted to get into,” stated Weiss. She was offered the head coaching job for women’s ice hockey one year later but elected to return home to coach her high school program. “I realized at 22 years old that prep school wasn’t for me,” Weiss said. “As a young person, watching my friends have fun in Boston and New York City was challenging. I needed a change.”
Coach Weiss began coaching men’s hockey when Hans Farnstrom, head coach of the Landon School. Farnstrom’s team skated at the same rink Weiss was coaching at, so they spoke regularly. The Landon School was “very progressive” in putting women in leadership roles, having many women coaches at their all-boys school.
By 2018, Weiss began to develop a relationship with the Maryland Black Bears of the NAHL. Like her relationship with the Landon School, she got to know Head Coach and General Manager Clint Mylymok while crossing paths in the rink. Mylymok, observing Weiss run skill sessions with high school players, asked if she wanted to coach skills for the Black Bears. She was officially hired to the team’s coaching staff in 2021.
The transition to junior hockey wasn’t an issue for Weiss. She was around the team for two years before being hired, so players already knew her. “[The players] treated me like they would treat any other coach,” Weiss said. “That gave me a lot of confidence.” Weiss helped the Black Bears with special teams, improving their power play percentage from 16% to 24% and their penalty kill percentage from 80% to 83%. She became the Associate Head Coach and even acted as Head Coach in March 2023. Stepping in for Mylymok, Weiss became the first female to serve as Head Coach in the NAHL. She finished with a record of 3-0.
Trinity Head Coach Matt Greason needed an Assistant Coach in 2023, and Weiss applied. Coach Greason hired her with no reservations. He added, “It was an easy hire. Her work ethic and growth mindset are elite. Coach Weiss is always trying to get better and developing new ideas. She attended the Colorado Avalanche Rookie and Main Camps and wants to access ideas from as many hockey people as possible.” Greason added
Trinity has already clinched the top seed in the upcoming NESCAC Playoffs and is currently ranked sixth in the USCHO National Poll. Weiss does individual video sessions with players all day, turning some who disliked video into her most frequent visitors. She works with the defense in practice and Trinity has only given up 31 goals in 23 games.
Head Coach Matt Greason, who led the Bantams to the National Championship in 2015, added a final thought about his dynamic new assistant. “Kim has great self-awareness and knows what to do to improve. She coaches and also works to absorb every bit of material she can to master coaching. That drives Kim and improves everyone around her, including me.”
The Bantams finish off the regular season with two games against Wesleyan. Then, they will host a first-round game and perhaps beyond to win a NESCAC Championship and NCAA bid.
Photo Credit: Maryland Black Bears
