BELOIT, Wis. - Beloit College Director of Athletics Pat Miller announced this morning that an offer has been extended to and accepted by Women's Hockey Interim Head Coach Kelly Millins to become the permanent head coach.

"Kelly came into a difficult situation at the beginning of the season and handled it spectacularly," expressed Miller. "We saw the team steadily improve throughout the season. With what she has done on the recruiting and fundraising sides, we expect her to have a bright future here."

Millins spent the 2025-26 season with the interim tag and guided the Buccaneers through their first season. "I'm honored to step into this role and continue building something special with our program," stated Millins. "We're committed to deepening our connection with the Beloit community, raising the standard every day, and creating a team culture rooted in accountability, growth, and pride. This is about constantly raising the bar and pushing ourselves to be better on and off the ice."

Under the guidance of Millins, two Buccaneers earned WIAC postseason honors. Freshman Kennedy Gruhlke was named to the 2026 WIAC Honorable Mention team, while sophomore Kylie Schryer was named to the All-Sportsmanship team.

Off the ice, Millins has made it a priority for her team to be involved in the local community. The Buccaneers have spent their free weekends volunteering at the Woodman's Center Intro to Hockey classes. They helped set up for the Woodman's Center Grand Opening in September. During their Nov. 21 home game, they hosted a Beloit Youth Hockey Night, which allowed current Beloit Youth players to join them on the ice during starting lineups and the national anthem. The Buccaneers spent time supporting the youth players at their games as well.

Millins also sat on the Edwards Ice Arena Project committee, which consisted of community members involved with Beloit Youth Hockey.