About | Sophie Doherty

“Leadership isn't taught. It's forged through challenge, reflection, and intentional practice. My role is to help people make meaning from those experiences so they become leaders worth following.”

Sophie Leclerc Doherty

Sophie Leclerc Doherty is a highly accomplished hockey coach and former elite collegiate player with experience spanning NCAA Division I and Division III women's hockey.

A national champion player, NCAA head coach, Division I assistant coach, and mentor to professional-level athletes, Sophie has built a reputation for developing high-character athletes and leaders, on and off the ice.

Most recently, Sophie served as head coach of the Norwich University women's hockey program. Prior to that, she spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Colgate University, helping elevate the Raiders into a nationally recognized Division I contender.

Sophie both played and coached at Norwich University — the oldest private military college in the country. That environment shaped the leadership she teaches today: grit, discipline, honesty, and accountability. Not buzzwords or motivational slides, but a real-life foundation of doing the hard, right thing — and bringing your team with you.

Sophie Leclerc Doherty coaching behind the bench

Playing career

Norwich University (2007–2011)

NCAA Division III National Champion (2011)
Team captain · ECAC East Player of the Year · AHCA All-American
Led the nation in scoring in 2010–11 with 54 points
Norwich all-time career assists leader (92 assists)
Norwich Athletics Hall of Fame — inducted 2020

Coaching career

Head coach — Norwich University (Division III · 2019–2025)

106–35–6 · 3 conference regular-season titles · 2 conference tournament championships · multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.

In six seasons, Sophie recruited and coached six AHCA All-Americans — headlined by Amanda Conway, the 2020 Laura Hurd Award winner as NCAA Division III National Player of the Year, a three-time First Team All-American and national scoring leader who went on to play professionally. Developing that caliber of athlete, on and off the ice, defined her tenure.

Assistant coach — Colgate University (Division I · 2015–2019)

2018 NCAA national runner-up. Colgate reached the national championship game for the first time in program history, falling to Clarkson in overtime. The 2017–18 team finished 34–6–1 — a single-season program record for wins.

Across four seasons (101 wins), Sophie helped build Colgate into a nationally ranked contender through some of the winningest years in program history — recruiting, skill development, video, and player mentorship.

Assistant coach — Norwich University (Division III · 2013–2015)

2014 NCAA national runner-up. In two seasons on the Norwich staff, Sophie helped the Cadets to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and consecutive Frozen Fours (2014 & 2015), reaching the national championship game in 2014.

Head coach — Kimball Union Academy (NH prep · 2012–2013)

Sophie's first head-coaching role — leading a prep hockey program before moving into the college ranks.