Minnesota brings back former player Brausen as new women’s assistant

The Minnesota women’s program announced Wednesday the addition of alumna Bethany Brausen as the team’s new assistant coach.

Brausen, who competed for the Gophers from 2010 to 2014, fills the open position left by Nadine Muzerall, who recently accepted a position as head coach at Ohio State.

“We are so excited to welcome Bethany to our Gopher coaching staff,” Minnesota head coach Brad Frost said in a statement. “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.”

“As a graduate of our program, I have realized how much Gopher women’s hockey runs in your blood,” Brausen added. “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 (Minn.) High School girls’ team and also served as co-head coach in the Minnesota Elite League.

As a four-year letter-winner and two-time captain with the Gophers, Brausen was part of back-to-back national championship teams in 2012 and 2013 and the national runner-up team in 2014.

Since graduating from 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 Minnesota and is expected to graduate in May 2017.