Women's Ice Hockey
- Title:
- Women's Ice Hockey Assistant Coach
- Email:
- edward.ardito@qu.edu
- Phone:
- (203) 582-7718
Eddie Ardito enters his fifth season as the assistant coach of the Quinnipiac University Women's Ice Hockey team, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the program. Showing an ability to successfully recruit, coach, and mentor student-athletes in meeting the academic and athletic demands of the ECAC Hockey league, Ardito positively impacts all aspects of the Bobcat program.
In his first year at Quinnipiac, Ardito helped lead the Bobcats to the first ECAC Hockey Regular Season and Tournament Championships in program history, earning the right to host the first NCAA Tournament game in Quinnipiac University history.
Working with the offense and power-play, the Bobcats set numerous program records for the most goals scored (118), most assists (188), and highest power play percentage (25 percent). Under his direction, the Quinnipiac power play established new milestones leading the ECAC in power play percentage in each of his first two years. The Bobcats scored 26 power-play goals in 2015-16, with power-play goals coming in 21 of the 38 games, including a streak of eight straight games with a power play goal from Jan. 9 to Feb. 6, 2016. Last year, the 18 power play goals in ECAC play marked the 2nd most in program history.
Ardito joined the Bobcat program from ECAC rival Yale University where he served as a volunteer assistant in 2010-11 before being promoted to assistant women's ice hockey coach in 2011, a position he held through the 2014-15 season. At Yale, Ardito served as the recruiting coordinator, produced scouting video and team video review, developed and ran morning skill sessions, and assisted in game and practice planning, among other tasks for the program.
During Ardito's tenure as the assistant coach, the Yale women's ice hockey program saw vast improvements. A number of deep, talented recruiting classes increased the team’s overall win total by 14 wins a year over his four seasons with the program. In the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, Ardito helped lead the Bulldogs to their first playoff appearances since the 2007-08 season. In 2013-14, the No. 7 seed Bulldogs won their first playoff game since 2005 when they won the opening game of the quarterfinals against the No. 2 seed Harvard Crimson.
Across the board, Yale improved each season in both ends of the ice with Ardito on the bench as an assistant coach. Offensively, the Bulldogs went from 1.07 goals per game in his first season to 3.00 goals per game in his final year in 2014-15. Not only did the offense improve, but Ardito saw vast improvements on the defensive end where the Bulldogs cut their goals allowed by more than half from 151 in 2011-12 to 73 in 2014-15.
Beyond the team improvements, Ardito had the opportunity to work with many players who were honored for their ability to achieve excellence on and off the ice. He worked with several Mandi Schwartz Student-Athletes of the Year and Sarah Devens Award Winners in Aleca Hughes in 2011-12 and Alyssa Zupon in 2012-13. Establishing himself as a tireless recruiter with an eye for identifying potential, Ardito is known among his peers for his work ethic and positive energy. He helped bring in, and coach, Phoebe Staenz, a bronze medalist from Switzerland in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Staenz was named the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year during the 2013-14 season as well as to the All-ECAC Hockey Third Team and Rookie Team.
A Connecticut native, Ardito was a three time all-state hockey player and three-time team MVP at Branford High School. He has extensive experience working at camps and clinics. He has served as an on-ice skills coach and evaluator USA Hockey National Camps since 2011. During this time, he evaluated every player at the U15 and U18 National Camp as part of his responsibilities.
He brings a diverse coaching background to Quinnipiac, working across genders and in a variety of roles. Prior to 2011, Ardito worked at Connecticut College for three years, serving as an Assistant Coach and Director of Hockey Operations with the men's hockey team. The Camels made a pair of New England Small College Athletic Conference Quarterfinal Appearances, including a 13-9-3 finish during the 2008-09 season. Through Ardito’s tenure with Connecticut College, he coached a pair of all-conference selections during the 2007-08 and 2008-09.
During the 2006-07, he led the New England College Women's Hockey program as the interim head coach, leading the team to a 12-6-1 conference record and the semifinals of the ECAC East Tournament. On that team, he coached two 30 point scorers, including Elizabeth Ross who scored 21 goals and 12 assists for 33 points. While serving as the interim head coach of the women’s team, he simultaneously served as the head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach of the men’s team that finished 13-5-1 in conference play and advanced to the ECAC East Championship game. Ardito also served as a volunteer assistant baseball coach with the Pilgrims in 2007.
As a student at New England College, Ardito began his career as a forward with the program before transitioning into a student assistant coach role.
Ardito received his undergraduate degree in Sport and Recreation Management: Athletic Administration with a minor in Coaching from New England College in 2006 and earned a Master of Science in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia (California) University in December 2014. He lives in Orange with his wife Amy, and his new daughter, Emma.
