Siva stepped down as head coach of Union University women's hockey after eight years on the job Saturday to take an assistant coaching position with PWHL's New York, both teams announced.
Siva was an assistant coach at Colgate University in Fargo from 2012-2016 before moving to Union University to take the head women's hockey coaching position.
“Obviously the opportunity came up with Greg Fargo to take over at PWHL New York and we started discussing the opportunity,” Siva said in a phone interview. “It was time to sit down with my family and my wife and figure out what the position was like. As you can imagine, there are a lot of different components to it. So I think ultimately I decided to take the opportunity and work with someone that I consider a mentor and that I've worked with in the past.”
“Coaching professional hockey was something I couldn't pass up and, honestly, I was really excited about it.”
On the PWHL New York website, team general manager Pascal D'Aoust said, “We are incredibly proud to welcome Josh to the New York family. His international background, expertise, experience and success as a head coach and assistant, along with his energy and values, will undoubtedly enhance an already outstanding staff. Our number one priority will remain ensuring each individual is able to reach their full potential and that the organization achieves its culture and goals of excellence.”
Siva is looking forward to a reunion with Fargo. But her departure comes at a time of big change for the Union women's hockey team. The Garnet Chargers will play their final season at Messa Rink this year before moving to Mohawk Harbor Arena in 2025-26. Athletic scholarships will be phased in to help the team attract top players.
“My first thought is the players at Union,” Siva said, “I think it's really hard to tell players that you're leaving, that you're leaving the program, especially right now, when we have scholarships in place, we have new facilities and we're doing a lot to celebrate. It's really hard to look players in the face and say, 'Hey, I'm leaving everything and I'm going to get another job.' So, for me, I think it's really hard.”
“But it's certainly interesting to see what's on the other side of it, to be a professional hockey coach, to have the opportunity to achieve a career dream, to work with someone that I know and trust and believe in. [It’s] For me it's really, really exciting. [It’s] It's bittersweet in a way, but I'm also very excited and really looking forward to what happens next.”
Union athletic director Jim McLaughlin said a search for a new coach is underway, with current assistant coaches Olivia Soares and Chris Ardito expected to be candidates.
“The timeline is really fast,” McLaughlin said in a phone interview. “Josh is due to finish up next week, and we're hoping to have someone in place sometime in August. The sooner the better, but we're going to move very quickly.”
Siva's departure comes two days after Union men's hockey team head coach Josh Hauge signed a contract extension through the 2028-29 season.
