Alumni ‘Remember They’re Playing for the Love of the Game’ Stories You May Like O Canada! Former Big Red Player Runs Popular Hockey Bar in NYC After Three Decades, Big Red Men’s Ice Hockey Passes the Torch Fascinating Facts About Lynah Rink, Big Red Hockey’s Chilly Abode A former Big Red star himself, women’s ice hockey coach Doug Derraugh ’91 has led the squad to five ECAC championships By Melissa Newcomb When Doug Derraugh ’91 committed to play ice hockey for the Big Red as an undergrad, it was Lynah Rink’s electric atmosphere that helped seal the deal. Fourteen years later, Derraugh returned to that iconic venue in a new and unexpected role: as head coach of the women’s program, a post he has held for the past two decades. Under Derraugh’s leadership, the team has won the ECAC tournament five times and advanced to the NCAA tourney 10 times, including playing in the national Frozen Four in 2011, 2012, 2019, and 2025; it made the finals in 2009–10, losing in the third overtime—the longest NCAA championship game ever played. Derraugh also led the team to five consecutive 20-win seasons (starting in 2009–10), a first in program history. In his element, leading practice in Lynah. But more important than wins and trophies, Derraugh emphasizes, is creating a culture of athletes who feel comfortable and connected to each other, and who enjoy showing up every day. “I think my players would say I’m passionate, invested, and loyal; some may say demanding,” says Derraugh. “And I also think they know they can come to me with anything, and that I want to help them be the best they can in all aspects of their lives. That’s why I love being in the college environment. In a small way, you have a chance to influence not only their hockey but their lives—and help them grow, so when they leave here, they’re ready for life.” I think my players would say I’m passionate, invested, and loyal; some may say demanding. And I also think they know they can come to me with anything. For Micah Zandee-Hart ’19, BA ’20, a former three-year captain for the Big Red and current captain of the New York Sirens in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, observing Derraugh in action gave her invaluable lessons in leadership. As Zandee-Hart recalls, Derraugh told her during recruiting that if her dream was to make the Canadian Olympic Team, he’d do his utmost to make it happen: if she’d be on the ice at 6 a.m., he’d meet her there with his shin pads on. And he did; Zandee-Hart not only made the team, but went on to win gold at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. “Whether it was me or the 26th player on our depth chart, he’d work with you on whatever you needed—even getting a law school interview,” Zandee-Hart recalls. “He had very high expectations for us, but he walks the talk himself.” A biological sciences major in Arts & Sciences, the Canadian-born Derraugh aimed to become a surgeon if he couldn’t play pro hockey. On the ice for the Big Red. During his time as a wing on the men’s team, he served as a captain and helped the Big Red make it to a NCAA tournament and to a second-place ECAC finish his senior year; he led the team in scoring and earned All-Ivy and All-ECAC honors. In fact, with 30 goals in 1990–91, he holds the record for the most scored during a senior season in program history. “Having been a student athlete here first lets me better understand what my players are going through,” Derraugh observes. “I know that there are going to be late nights studying and times where they need flexibility.” He had very high expectations for us, but he walks the talk himself. Micah Zandee-Hart ’19, BA ’20 After graduation, Derraugh played professionally in Europe for 13 years, with stints in Germany, Norway, Austria, Finland, and Italy. In his final pro season, he also served as a special teams coach. He then moved back to his home province of Ontario with his wife and three children. Stories You May Like O Canada! Former Big Red Player Runs Popular Hockey Bar in NYC After Three Decades, Big Red Men’s Ice Hockey Passes the Torch He was working as a lab technician in nuclear medicine when the Big Red tapped him as the women’s team’s interim head coach—a job for which he’d applied four years earlier—because the incumbent, Melody Davidson, was taking a year’s leave to coach the Canadian women’s Olympic team. A parent gifted Derraugh a painting depicting him watching players gather after their final practice of the 2019–20 season. He took the temporary gig—and when Canada won gold and Davidson stayed with the program, Derraugh assumed the role full time. At the time, Derraugh recalls, he asked Davidson for some advice, since he’d never coached women before. She told him that in general, she’d observed that “men need to win to have fun—but women need to have fun to win,” something that has stuck with him throughout his coaching career. Derraugh was working as a clinical researcher in nuclear medicine when the Big Red tapped him as the team’s interim head coach. “We push our athletes, yes; we work hard and hold them accountable,” Derraugh says. “But we also need to remember they’re playing for the love of the game; if they’re not having fun—if this isn’t a place they want to come every day, where they can be themselves—we aren’t going to see success.” It has proved a winning philosophy, both literally and figuratively. When asked to list their favorite memories of being coached by Derraugh, current co-captains Grace Dwyer ’26 and Sarah MacEachern ’26 listed winning in Lynah with record attendance, going to the Frozen Four in 2025—and team ice cream stops on road trips. During a 2022 home game. “He understands and appreciates that there is life outside of hockey, and makes it clear that his goal is to help shape us as people who will succeed and live a fulfilled life,” says MacEachern. “Yes, he is a hockey coach, and does that job incredibly well. He makes sure everyone knows what it takes to be an elite player—and will put in any amount of time to help each individual person get better.” He understands and appreciates that there is life outside of hockey, and makes it clear that his goal is to help shape us as people who will succeed and live a fulfilled life. Sarah MacEachern ’26 Zandee-Hart’s fondest memories are the team’s post-win screaming sessions in the locker room—a tradition that, perhaps surprisingly, was started by the typically calm and unflappable Derraugh. “It was such a great environment,” Zandee-Hart recalls of playing for the Big Red. “Coach has such a good read on his team. He really took the time to get to know us as individuals, and his office door was always open.” Top: Derraugh coaching during the 2011–12 season. (All photos courtesy of Cornell Athletics.) Published December 24, 2025 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Chime In Genealogy Research Helped Me Find My Cornellian Cousins Quizzes & Puzzles September / October ’24 Trivia Roundup Quizzes & Puzzles Cornellian Crossword: ‘All Roads Lead to Ithaca’