One of the most decorated coaches in women’s hockey history has stepped down after nearly 30 years leading Harvard’s women’s hockey program in the shadow of allegations by players that she engaged in abuses and other misconduct during her tenure.
The school said Tuesday that Katey Stone had made the decision to retire from coaching. The six-paragraph announcement came after The Boston Globe published a report in January detailing the accounts of multiple players who alleged Stone ran a program rife with verbal abuse, hazing, and pressure to return prematurely from injuries.
Harvard initiated a review after one alleged incident last season, the Globe reported, but ultimately decided to keep her as coach.
Stone, 57, has not publicly addressed allegations raised in the Globe report.
In her retirement announcement, Stone listed her relationships with players as one of the things she was most proud of during her time at Harvard.
“The relationships fostered with my players over the years have been the very best part of my job,” Stone said in the statement released through the university. “Their personal accomplishments both at Harvard and beyond, along with our shared achievements, will always be a point of great pride and inspiration for me.
“The decision to retire from any profession is never an easy decision; for coaches, stepping down from the bench, leaving the program you have poured your heart and soul into for this many years, is especially hard. I believe a coach knows in their heart when it is time for change, and I look forward to supporting the next chapter in Harvard Women’s Hockey.”
Stone built Harvard into a national power after taking over as coach in 1994. Her run included 12 NCAA regional appearances, six trips to the Frozen Four, four national title game appearances, and the 1999 national championship. She also led the Crimson to nine Ivy League championships and 12 Beanpot titles.
In addition, she served as the first coach of the U.S Olympic women’s hockey team at the Winter Olympics in 2014, leading the U.S. to the silver medal.
The school said a search for Stone’s replacement would begin immediately.
However, Stone’s retirement comes in the midst of allegations brought forward by at least sixteen former players, accusing her of emotional and verbal abuse, as well as racial discrimination. These allegations have raised questions about the university’s handling of the situation and its willingness to defend staff members.
Stone’s retirement decision follows a series of events that have drawn attention to the allegations against her. The Boston Globe published a report earlier this year, outlining the experiences of multiple players who claimed that Stone had created an environment filled with verbal abuse, hazing, and undue pressure to return to the game before fully recovering from injuries.
While Harvard conducted a review in response to one incident reported last season, the outcome of the review resulted in the decision to retain Stone as the coach.
Stone, who has not publicly addressed the specific allegations, expressed pride in the relationships she formed with her players during her retirement announcement. She stated that the bonds developed with her players throughout the years have been the most rewarding aspect of her job, and their achievements both at Harvard and beyond will always be a source of pride and inspiration.
Recognized as one of the most successful coaches in women’s hockey, Stone led Harvard to numerous accomplishments during her tenure. She guided the team to 12 appearances in the NCAA regionals, six trips to the Frozen Four, and four national championship game appearances. The crowning achievement came in 1999 when Harvard secured the national championship title. Stone also steered the Crimson to nine Ivy League championships and 12 Beanpot titles.
In addition to her collegiate coaching achievements, Stone made history as the inaugural coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team at the 2014 Winter Olympics, where she led the team to a silver medal.
Following Stone’s retirement, Harvard announced that the search for her replacement would commence immediately, marking a new chapter for Harvard Women’s Hockey amid the allegations and the need for change within the program.
