Castleton announced Tuesday that Ashley Salerno has been hired as the head coach of the Spartans women’s program.
“I am pleased to welcome Ashley as the new head coach of the women’s ice hockey program,” said Castleton associate dean for athletics and recreation Deanna Tyson in a statement. “Her experience both as a player and as an assistant coach is very impressive. I look forward to seeing her guide the Spartans into the upcoming season.”
Salerno was an assistant coach under Jim Plumer at Vermont during the 2016-17 season, helping the Catamounts to a winning record and a berth in the Hockey East semifinals for just the second time in program history.
For the previous two seasons, Salerno served as an assistant coach at Middlebury under Bill Mandigo.
“I’d like to thank President Wolk, Scott Dikeman, Deanna Tyson, and the rest of the hiring committee for the opportunity,” added Salerno. “I am very excited to be a Spartan, and I look forward to working with the student-athletes at Castleton.”
After playing at Amherst for three years, Salerno transferred to Vermont for the 2013-14 season, helping the Catamounts set a program record for single-season wins with 18 and advance to the semifinals of the Hockey East tournament for the first time in program history. A defenseman on the squad, she was selected to the Hockey East All-Academic Team.
Salerno was an intern coach at the USA Hockey National Developmental Camp in St. Cloud, Minn., in July 2014. In addition, she has been a coach at various hockey summer camps throughout New England as well as at the Rush Hockey Showcase in Toronto in 2016 and the College Hockey Showcase in Fort Myers, Fla., in 2015.
