OSHAWA, Ont. – As Ontario Tech wraps up its 20th anniversary, the school continues to hit major growth milestones. This fall, the Ridgebacks women's hockey team will be the first team in school history to be coached by an alumni, as Kassidy Nauboris is set to take the reigns as head coach.

"It is truly an honour to be given the opportunity to be the head coach of a program that means so much to me," said Nauboris. "I am beyond excited to start this next chapter with the Ridgebacks."

Nauboris was one of the most decorated Ridgebacks of all time, being named the 2019 female athlete of the year and setting multiple records for the program. Nauboris tied the Ridgebacks' single-season points record at 32 and set the single-season record for most assists and points per game.

She not only had success at the Campus Ice Centre, but also became the first Ridgeback to compete internationally when she played for the 2017 Canadian women's hockey team at the FISU Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, appearing in seven games and bringing home a silver medal. 

"As an athlete, I was given so much support athletically and academically, and I cannot wait to offer our current players the same support to help them achieve excellence," says Nauboris. "I am thrilled to be able to have a larger role in helping these student-athletes thrive."

After graduating from Ontario Tech, Nauboris played one season of professional hockey with MAC Budapest in the European Women's Hockey League. She scored 11 goals and racked up 23 points over 18 games, where MAC Budapest finished with a silver medal after losing the championship game before rejoining the Ridgebacks as an assistant coach for the 2022-23 season.

Nauboris graduated from Ontario Tech with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and went to the University of Winnipeg for athletic therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue her education.