2013-14 Women's Hockey Schedule | Women's Hockey Tickets

TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton has announced the hiring of Derek Alfama as assistant women's hockey coach, serving under head coach John Burke. 

"Derek is a tireless worker and will bring great deal of experience and energy to our program," said Burke, who is in his 10th season as head coach of the Engineers. "He has been both successful on the ice and as a recruiter. We are very fortunate to have Derek be part of the RPI family."

Alfama was most recently an assistant at The College of the Holy Cross, where he mentored the Crusaders for the last two seasons. In 2012-13, Holy Cross finished the season with an overall record of 16-6-5 and 9-4-5 in ECAC East action. He helped the team to a 19-4-3 record in his first season with the program, as the Crusaders advanced to the ECAC Open Championship. 

Alfama joined Holy Cross after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at Norwich University. During the 2010-2011 campaign, Alfama helped lead the Cadets to an overall record of 25-4-1, with the team winning the NCAA Division III Championship. Norwich finished as the NCAA runner-up in 2009-2010, and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals in 2008-2009. The Cadets had a 20-6-5 record in 2009-2010 and a 19-9-1 mark in 2008-2009, good for an overall record of 64-19-7 during Alfama's three years on the staff. Norwich also received the American College Hockey Association Division III Women's Staff of the Year Award in two of Alfama's three seasons.

Alfama's playing experience includes spending four years at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, Mass., and one season at Trinity Pawling School in Pawling, N.Y. He has also been involved with the USA Hockey Satellite program for the past four seasons.

A 1996 graduate of Norwich with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Alfama was a four-year member of the Cadets' men's ice hockey team. He served as team captain during his senior season, and received the programs Robert Priestly Award.