BURLINGTON, Vt. - Vermont women's hockey head coach Jim Plumer announced that Kevin Dessart has joined his staff as Associate Head Coach on Monday afternoon. Dessart joins the Catamounts after two seasons as the Head Coach at Lawrence University (DIII).

"We are really excited to welcome Kevin to our UVM Women's Hockey Family," said Plumer. "Not only is he bringing a lifetime of passion for hockey and experience from the NHL to NCAA hockey, he has extensive leadership experience developed over years working with elite athletes and organizations.  I have no doubt that Kevin is going to be a great fit for culture and make an impact on our players, staff, and the UVM community.  I look forward to working with him towards winning our first Hockey East championship."
 
A native of East Rockaway, N.Y., Dessart has been coaching women's hockey since 2001. Dessart led the Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association U19 team from 2001 before moving to the University of Colorado in 2019. In three years under Dessart's guidance, the Buffaloes won back-to-back Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League championships, earning berths in the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championships.
 
Dessart has spent a lifetime in the game. He grew up playing the game in New York and was a collegiate player at St. John's (N.Y.) University before the program disbanded in the early 1990s. Dessart earned a bachelor's degree in athletic administration/business administration from St. John's in 1990.
     
Dessart spent 11 years working in the National Hockey League starting as a media relations assistant with the New York Islanders in 1989. He worked as the assistant to the general manager of the Florida Panthers before serving as director of public relations for the New Jersey Devils. In addition, Dessart is also a coach developer for USA Hockey as well as a coach for the USA Hockey Girls National 16/17 camp.
 
Dessart is taking over for Alex Gettens who departed for Colgate earlier in August. "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Alex Gettens for his nine years of devotion to our program," said Plumer. He began as a student manager and ended his career as Associate Head Coach and he gave his all to our program during that time.  We wish him the best in his new role at Colgate."
 
For news and updates about the Vermont women's hockey program, follow @UVMwhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.
 
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program