Stephane Decossé. (Photo provided)
HAMILTON, N.Y. — After nearly a decade as an assistant coach, Stephane DeCosse has been named Colgate University's new head women's hockey coach, vice president and director of athletics, Yariv Amir announced recently.
DeCos, the fifth head coach in program history, boasted a record of 202 wins, 69 losses and 20 ties during his tenure as an assistant. He has been a key player behind the Raiders' bench for the past nine seasons, leading Colgate to two NCAA Frozen Four appearances and four ECAC championships.
“Coach DeCos has worked tirelessly over the past nine years to build Colgate women's hockey into a nationally recognized program,” Amir said. “He has a deep understanding of the culture and values of both Colgate and the women's hockey program, and he and his family have been pillars of the Hamilton and Colgate communities. I look forward to him continuing to lead our student-athletes to success on and off the ice.”
As an assistant coach, DeCos has served in several roles including Director of Recruiting, Director of Player Development and Program Liaison. Since 2019, he has led five recruiting classes that were ranked in the top five nationally (neutralzone.net), including a 2023 class that was ranked No. 1 among all 36 NCAA Division I women's hockey programs.
“I am honored to have been selected as the new head coach of the Colgate women's hockey team,” DeCos said, “Having called Hamilton home for the past nine years, I know what a special place this is. The unwavering support and dedication of our staff, faculty, alumni and student-athletes have played a vital role in getting the Colgate women's hockey team to where it is today.”
“I am committed to preserving Hamilton's winning culture while finding new ways to move the program forward both on and off the ice.”
Since his first full season as an assistant coach in 2016-17, DeCos has had 23 Colgate student-athletes selected to the ECAC Hockey All-League Team. During his tenure, seven Raiders have been selected to the All-League First Team and four student-athletes have been named AWCHA All-Americans. DeCos helped lead the program to its first-ever NCAA Frozen Four appearance and Colgate's only national championship appearance in 2018, leading to three All-USCHO selections. In total, he has coached nine All-USCHO Raiders.
The rookies that DeCos has coached have also enjoyed success at the collegiate level, with DeCos coaching seven ECAC Hockey All-Rookie selections and two 2021 and 2023 Rookie of the Year players.
“We are very pleased with Stephen, his family and of course our women's hockey program's appointment as Colgate's new head coach,” said former Colgate head coach Greg Fargo, who recently took over as PWHL New York's head bench leader. “His passion for Colgate, his contagious energy and dedication to our student-athletes have been key components of our recent success, including four consecutive ECAC championships. Stephen is an excellent recruiter and a great teacher of our style of play, and we can't wait to see the exciting future he brings to Colgate. This program will be great with Stephen at the helm.”
DeCos has been involved in developing more than 150 ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team honorees, including a program-record 23 in 2022-23. His Raiders have received national recognition by producing 34 AHCA All-American scholars and NCAA Elite 90™ award recipients during last year's Frozen Four. DeCos also coached Colgate University's prestigious 2024 Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipients.
Under De Cos's tutelage, 22 Colgate graduates have been drafted into the Women's Professional Ice Hockey League. Six Raiders were selected in the 2024 PWHL Draft, the second-most of any collegiate program in the nation. Internationally, 12 of De Cos' Raiders have played for their country's U-18 teams and 13 have played for their U-22 teams. De Cos has also coached eight student-athletes who have earned spots on national teams and five more who have attended international development camps. Three Olympians have played in the maroon and white under De Cos's tutelage.
DeCos was a two-time captain of the SUNY Geneseo men's ice hockey team and was selected to the SUNYAC All-Academic Team each year. He went on to earn a Master of Arts degree from York University in Toronto, where he has published three papers in peer-reviewed academic publications.
“I would like to thank Yariv Amir and the members of the selection committee for the opportunity to contribute to this storied hockey program and university,” DeCos said. “I would also like to extend a special thank you to my wife, Erin, who has supported me every step of this journey. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Greg Fargo for his guidance and mentorship throughout my career. I am excited to contribute to a program that means so much to me and my family.”
