NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - Chris MacKenzie, Niagara alumnus ('00) and former men's hockey standout, has been named head women's hockey coach, as announced by Niagara University's Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin on Wednesday. MacKenzie will be the second head coach in the history of the program.

"Chris brings us the discipline and passion we need to return our program to prominence," McLaughlin said. "The key in this search was finding someone who understood Niagara University and could build success in all aspects of the program. Chris’ experience in creating success as a student-athlete and as a coach will put us back on the level where we want to be."

MacKenzie helped start the men's hockey program in 1996, and played four seasons as one of the most successful Purple Eagle defenders. He currently holds seven records at Niagara, including most goals, assists and points in a career and a season by a defenseman.

He has spent the past eight years as the assistant coach at UMass-Lowell where he assisted in all facets of practices and games, along with scouting and recruiting. He also oversaw the team's community service initiatives as well as serving as the academic coordinator, helping UML earn a record 17 all-academic all-conference selections in 2005.

The Niagara Falls, Ont., native also spent the first season after graduating from Niagara as a professional hockey player for JYP Jyvaskyla in the Finnish Elite League. He graduated Niagara with a degree in commerce with a concentration in human resources management in 2000 and maintained a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average, while making the dean's list six times and earning CHA All-Academic honors as a senior. He received his master's in social psychology from UMass Lowell in 2003.

"I am very excited for the opportunity, not only to become a head coach, but also to come back to my alma mater," MacKenzie said. "I grew up in the area, and to be able to come home and serve Niagara University is a tremendous honor. A lot of my success as a person I owe to Niagara, which makes this extra special."

MacKenzie finished his stellar career at Niagara with 20 goals, 77 assists and 97 points while playing for the 2000 team that reached the Elite Eight, owning a 30-8-4 record. That team earned Niagara's only NCAA Tournament win, a 4-1 victory over New Hampshire. In 1996, MacKenzie was honored by then-head coach Blaise MacDonald and then-assistant coach Dave Burkholder as the program's first captain.

"Chris was one of our first recruits when we started the men's program 13 years ago," Burkholder said. "He was one of the most dedicated players we have ever had. His coaching experience and his passion for Niagara will make him a perfect fit to head the women's program."