Lake Forest College Sports Information
March 2, 2005
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

Bellizzi Resigns as Head Coach of the Foresters
National search for her replacement is under way
 

Susie Bellizzi coached the Foresters for four seasons.
LAKE FOREST, IL - Susie Bellizzi resigned her position as head coach of the Lake Forest College women’s hockey team on Monday, February 21, electing not to return for a fifth season behind the Forester bench. She will remain on staff and fulfill the position’s administrative and recruiting obligations for the remainder of the academic year.

Bellizzi indicated that she may remain in the coaching profession but that it was simply time for a change. “I enjoyed working at Lake Forest and learned a lot in my first head coaching position,” she stated. “I’m also excited and confident about the direction the program is headed and I look forward to following the team’s future success. I will do all that I can in the next few months to ensure the well-being of both the current and prospective players during the coaching transition.”

In four years at the helm of the women’s hockey program, Bellizzi has tallied 30 victories and led the team’s growth to its current size of 23 players. The Foresters’ best season came in 2002-03 when they posted a 14-9-3 overall record and placed third in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association with a league mark of 6-8-2. This year’s team posted an 8-9-6 record and, late in the season, recorded ties against a pair of conference teams ranked among the top 10 in the nation.

Lake Forest players have garnered 10 all-conference distinctions under Bellizzi, including three first team designations. They have also earned Academic All-NCHA honors 13 times.

“We appreciate all that Coach Bellizzi has done for our women’s hockey program and we wish her the best of luck in the future,” comments Lake Forest College Athletic Director Jackie Slaats. “A national search for her replacement will be conducted and I’m confident that person will benefit greatly from the impact Susie has made on our program during her tenure at the College.”