“Jody is a very enthusiastic young lady who really wants to make a splash coaching at the Division I level,” said McGonagle. “She will be a big asset to our program and her experience at a Division I institution, both as a student-athlete and a staff member, will be valuable to our program.”

Katz played Division I women’s hockey at Niagara University where she received the Varsity Academic Achievement Award in 2000. She was also a member of the 2002 team that made it to the women’s NCAA Frozen Four in 2002.

"It is an unbelievable opportunity to be able to work with a brand new program,” said Katz. “Robert Morris is an outstanding institution both academically and athletically and I am very excited to help build a successful Division I program and put Robert Morris on the college hockey map".

A 2002 graduate from Niagara with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education, was most recently an assistant coach with the Western Region women’s ice hockey team in the Empire State Games during the summer of 2004. Involved in all aspects of coaching with the team, Katz helped the Western Region squad to a bronze medal finish at the Games.

Prior to her experience as an assistant coach in the Empire State Games, Katz worked as an evaluator for the Western Region team in 2000 and 2001. In that role, she evaluated and graded potential team members and helped in team selection. She also worked as the Head Hockey Instructor at MVP Hockey Schools throughout Ontario during the summers from 2001 through 2004.

A native of Toronto, Ontario, Katz completed her graduate work at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., where she earned her Master of Science in Sports Administration in 2002.