WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 2, 2023) -- The calendar turned to August, and with the impending return of our student-athletes for the 2023-24 academic year, it is with great pleasure that the King's College athletic department and Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Cheryl Ish announce the newest staff addition. On Wednesday afternoon, Ish unveiled that Josh Hoff will join the Monarchs as our next head women's ice hockey coach ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. 

"I am extremely honored to be the next head coach of the King's College women's ice hockey team," said Hoff. "My family and I are excited to be moving to Wilkes-Barre and joining the Monarch family. I am looking forward to the journey ahead for this program. I believe there is a great group of young women at King's that are looking forward to working hard every day to get better."

Hoff joins the Monarch sidelines this season after spending the 2022-23 campaign across town with the men's program at Wilkes University. As an assistant coach, Hoff assisted in designing and executing on-ice practices, systems, and bench management as well as conditioning plans, scheduling for team meals and other logistics and administration duties. Additionally, Hoff took charge of skill development for the Colonels defensemen, special teams development, and film and scouting. This led the Colonels to a 13-10-3 overall record with five All-MAC selections with Hoff on the sidelines in 2022-23.

"I'm confident that Josh Hoff will be an excellent addition to our department," stated Ish."Throughout the interview process it was evident that Josh is committed to the student-athlete experience and will couple that with his passion for the game."

Beyond his time with the Wilkes men's ice hockey program, Hoff served as head coach premier for the Spud Kings, a USPHL program based in Idaho Falls, Id. last summer after a two-year stint as the head coach at the Hoosac School, a Division I prep hockey program in Hoosick Falls, N.Y.

Prior to his experience up north, Hoff held various roles down south, including time with the Charleston Colonials, the College of Charleston, Charlotte Rush, Charleston Jr. Stingrays, and the Carolina Ice Palace.

"Josh no doubt will bring an enthusiasm to the ice that will focus on building on a strong, competitive, cohesive team," added Ish. "I'm grateful to the search committee and the players who were involved in the search and look forward to seeing this team back on the ice."

Hoff was a 2018 graduate of the College of Charleston with a bachelor's degree in physical education, health and human performance where he also competed for the college's Division III club team as a center and defenseman from 2014 to 2016.