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Providence College Athletics
Matt Kelly Resigns As Women’s Hockey Head Coach; Nicole Norton Named Interim Head Coach And Katie Burt Promoted To Interim Associate Head Coach
8/16/2026 7:16:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
Kelly recently completed his eighth season as the head coach of the women’s ice hockey program.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – It was announced today [Aug. 16] that Providence College women's ice hockey Head Coach Matt Kelly has stepped down. Kelly recently completed his eighth season behind the bench for the Friars and led the team to a 136-109-27 record and one NCAA Tournament berth (2020-21). Assistant Coach Nicole Norton will take over the program as interim head coach, while Assistant Coach Katie Burt will be elevated to interim associate head coach.
"I want to thank Matt for his work over the last eight years in Friartown," Athletic Director Steve Napolillo said. "We are grateful for his contributions to the women's ice hockey program and we wish him and his family all the best in the future. We are excited to have Nicole step into the role of interim head coach. She has been an integral part of our program the last five seasons and we are confident in her ability to lead the program forward this season."
Norton begins her sixth season in Friartown in 2026-27. In her first four seasons, Norton worked closely with the Friars' defensive unit before transitioning to the offense in 2025-26.
During Norton's five seasons, the Friars have reached the Hockey East Championship once and the Hockey East Quarterfinals three times. Norton has also been influential in the development of recent Friar PWHL draftees Brooke Becker and Reichen Kirchmair.
In 2025-26, Norton was instrumental in the development of three Friars who recorded 20 or more points. Under Norton's guidance, Kirchmair became the 29th player in program history to reach 100 career points, while Audrey Knapp recorded her second consecutive 20-point season.
For the two years prior to joining Providence, Norton spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Long Island University, including the program's inaugural season in 2019-20. Despite the Sharks' first-year status, Norton helped guide LIU to the NEWHA Championship. In 2020-21, the Sharks were repeat winners of the NEWHA Commissioner's Cup in an abbreviated series due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Norton assisted in all areas of the program, including team development, individual skill development, defensive management, video analysis, team operations and recruiting.
Before LIU, Norton spent two years as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Nichols College. During her tenure at Nichols, the team set the program record for wins in a season and advanced to its first playoff victory in 2018.
A 2016 graduate of Syracuse University, Norton played in 145 games for the Orange. During her career, she recorded 18 goals and 58 assists and served as an assistant captain in her final two seasons. Norton opened her collegiate career as a unanimous selection to the CHA All-Rookie Team and earned First Team All-CHA honors in each of her next three seasons with the Orange. Norton also was named CHA Defenseman of the Year as a senior in 2016.
Following graduation from Syracuse, Norton continued her playing career in the European Women's Hockey League (EWHL) with the EV Bozen 84 Eagles. During her time with the Eagles, she helped the team win both the regular-season and playoff championships.
Katie Burt enters her fourth season with the Friars in 2026-27, working primarily with the goaltenders and defense. In 2025-26, Burt mentored goaltender Hope Walinski, who set a program record with 959 saves and became one of five goaltenders in program history to appear in 100 games.
Prior to joining Providence, Burt spent time playing in the Premier Hockey Federation for the Boston Pride (2021-22) and Metropolitan Riveters (2022-23). She was the number one overall selection in the 2017 National Women's Hockey League Draft. A 2018 Boston College graduate, Burt helped lead the Eagles to the 2016 national championship and finished her career with 121 wins and 3,180 saves.
Burt also has been influential in the recruitment of freshman goaltender Bianca Birrittieri, who represented the United States at the 2026 IIHF U-18 Women's World Championship and helped lead the team to a gold medal. Birrittieri was named Player of the Game in the gold-medal game after recording a 38-save shutout.
Providence College will conduct a national search for its next women's ice hockey head coach at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
For more updates on the Providence College women's hockey program, follow the team on X and Instagram @PCWHockey.
- GO FRIARS! -
"I want to thank Matt for his work over the last eight years in Friartown," Athletic Director Steve Napolillo said. "We are grateful for his contributions to the women's ice hockey program and we wish him and his family all the best in the future. We are excited to have Nicole step into the role of interim head coach. She has been an integral part of our program the last five seasons and we are confident in her ability to lead the program forward this season."
Norton begins her sixth season in Friartown in 2026-27. In her first four seasons, Norton worked closely with the Friars' defensive unit before transitioning to the offense in 2025-26.
During Norton's five seasons, the Friars have reached the Hockey East Championship once and the Hockey East Quarterfinals three times. Norton has also been influential in the development of recent Friar PWHL draftees Brooke Becker and Reichen Kirchmair.
In 2025-26, Norton was instrumental in the development of three Friars who recorded 20 or more points. Under Norton's guidance, Kirchmair became the 29th player in program history to reach 100 career points, while Audrey Knapp recorded her second consecutive 20-point season.
For the two years prior to joining Providence, Norton spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Long Island University, including the program's inaugural season in 2019-20. Despite the Sharks' first-year status, Norton helped guide LIU to the NEWHA Championship. In 2020-21, the Sharks were repeat winners of the NEWHA Commissioner's Cup in an abbreviated series due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Norton assisted in all areas of the program, including team development, individual skill development, defensive management, video analysis, team operations and recruiting.
Before LIU, Norton spent two years as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Nichols College. During her tenure at Nichols, the team set the program record for wins in a season and advanced to its first playoff victory in 2018.
A 2016 graduate of Syracuse University, Norton played in 145 games for the Orange. During her career, she recorded 18 goals and 58 assists and served as an assistant captain in her final two seasons. Norton opened her collegiate career as a unanimous selection to the CHA All-Rookie Team and earned First Team All-CHA honors in each of her next three seasons with the Orange. Norton also was named CHA Defenseman of the Year as a senior in 2016.
Following graduation from Syracuse, Norton continued her playing career in the European Women's Hockey League (EWHL) with the EV Bozen 84 Eagles. During her time with the Eagles, she helped the team win both the regular-season and playoff championships.
Katie Burt enters her fourth season with the Friars in 2026-27, working primarily with the goaltenders and defense. In 2025-26, Burt mentored goaltender Hope Walinski, who set a program record with 959 saves and became one of five goaltenders in program history to appear in 100 games.
Prior to joining Providence, Burt spent time playing in the Premier Hockey Federation for the Boston Pride (2021-22) and Metropolitan Riveters (2022-23). She was the number one overall selection in the 2017 National Women's Hockey League Draft. A 2018 Boston College graduate, Burt helped lead the Eagles to the 2016 national championship and finished her career with 121 wins and 3,180 saves.
Burt also has been influential in the recruitment of freshman goaltender Bianca Birrittieri, who represented the United States at the 2026 IIHF U-18 Women's World Championship and helped lead the team to a gold medal. Birrittieri was named Player of the Game in the gold-medal game after recording a 38-save shutout.
Providence College will conduct a national search for its next women's ice hockey head coach at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
For more updates on the Providence College women's hockey program, follow the team on X and Instagram @PCWHockey.
- GO FRIARS! -
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