Walking around campus, the new women’s assistant hockey coach Sarah Youlen tends to blend right in at RPI scenery, except for the fact that she is a woman.
Youlen, who became the newest member to join the Engineers after being hired as the first full time women’s hockey assistant coach by Athletic Director Ken Ralph in August, is fresh out of college, only a couple months removed from finishing up her senior year at Providence College.
It’s pretty nice, it’s pretty exciting,” Youlen said of being named the program’s first full time assistant coach. “Just to be able to look at the different level of players and see who can help us through the transition.”
And despite her youth, Youlen brings much needed experience to a program currently in the midst of major change.
As former captain and member of three league title teams with the Friars’ Division I women’s hockey team, Youlen faced—and conquered—many of the challenges a D-I hockey player might face on and off the ice, and she hopes to do help the Engineers do the same.
“My best asset is my Division I experience,” Youlen, who majored in sociology with a minor in business, said. “Having played at Providence and it being a fairly successful program, I think I can show the girls the difference between D-I and D-III and bring that top-tier mentality to them. I want to help the players through the transition so [they] can expand their games and be successful.”
Youlen is no stranger to what it takes to be successful at the college hockey’s top level.
Despite posting modest numbers over her career as a forward—15 goals and 17 assists—she was awarded the Friars’ Unsung Hero Award and the Paul Connolly Award for displaying outstanding sportsmanship.
However, Youlen is ready to move off the ice and onto the bench for a new career as a coach; something she admits was not always a reality in her mind.
“If you would have asked me [if I wanted to coach] my freshman or sophomore year I would have said no,” Youlen said. “But I think my junior or senior [year] when I realized my hockey career was ending, I realized I wanted to stay involved with the game in one aspect or another.”
Youlen will be key in recruiting new talent for the D-I upgrade.
“RPI virtually sells itself,” Youlen said. “Academically it is a great institution, but on the other hand it is hard to recruit some of the top tier players because they want to go to already established programs.
“It is not about getting that one good player. It is about getting five second tier players and building a unit. That’s something we can do.”
Although a Potsdam, N.Y. native, Youlen insists she was never an avid Golden Knight. Her two brothers did attend Clarkson and she can’t wait for the opportunity to earn some bragging rights around the homestead.
However, the most important task facing Youlen will be preparing for this year, a year where she, like the players, expects big things.
“As a coaching staff we have to stay focused on this year,” Youlen said. “We have a good team and we can end [our D-III play] on a positive note with an ECAC East Championship.”
Youlen may face one more challenge this year as well as the players, particularly goaltender Rosina Schiff, are ready to take on their new coach.
“I can’t wait to get her on the ice,” Schiff said with a smile. “Then we can see what she’s really got.”
Editor’s Note: Due to space restrictions this feature was omitted from the October 6 Hockey Preview.
