BIDDEFORD, Maine -- University of New England Director of Athletics Heather Davis announced on Saturday (August 19) the hiring of Cassandra Sherman as the new head coach of the women's ice hockey team.

"I am thrilled that Cassandra Sherman will be our next women's hockey coach," Davis commented. "She rose to the top of our competitive national search process due to her student-athlete-centered philosophy and her unique combination of playing and coaching experience. Our women's program is primed for even more success and I'm so excited for her to get started."

Sherman becomes the third head coach in the history of the women's ice hockey program, which enters its 12th season in 2023-24. She replaces David Venditti, who led the way for the last 10 years.

Most recently, Sherman was in Florida serving as coach of multiple teams within the Tampa Jr. Lightning club organization, and was the Co-Director of Youth Hockey at the Palm Beach Skate Zone prior to that.

No stranger to the Maine ice hockey scene, Sherman spent four seasons (2017-21) as assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Southern Maine. The Huskies increased overall and New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) win totals during each full campaign, including a 12-13-2 mark (9-7-0 NEHC) in 2019-20 that ended in the semifinals of the league postseason championship. For two of those years, Sherman also worked with the Can/Am Hockey Group in Lake Placid as a coach for tournaments and camps.

In the year after graduating from USM (2016-17), she played professionally for Dusseldorf in Germany's top women's hockey league and helped the squad to the division title, totaling seven goals and nine assists over 13 contests. Sherman returned stateside in 2017-18 and played for the Boston Blades in the Canadian Women's Hockey League -- North America's top level, at the time.

As a four-year student-athlete at Southern Maine (2012-16), Sherman logged 104 consecutive games as a forward and scored 25 goals to go with 22 assists. She was a two-year captain for the Huskies, and had her best season as a senior when she tallied nine goals and 14 points. The North Smithfield, R.I. native earned a bachelor's degree in recreation and leisure studies.

"I am beyond excited and would like to thank Heather Davis, Curt Smyth, the administration, and the hiring committee for the opportunity to become part of the women's ice hockey team and the UNE community," said Sherman. "What David Venditti has built at UNE is tremendous, and I am honored to be chosen to take over the roll of head coach. I cannot wait to get started!"

Sherman assumes control of a Nor'easters program that is three years removed from back-to-back 16-win seasons, and has reached conference finals in two of the last three full years.

UNE opens the 2023-24 regular season at home against USM on October 27.