(Photo courtesy of PU’s Office of Athletic Communications) HEADING HOME: Amy Bourbeau surveys the action from the bench in her role as assistant coach for the Princeton University women’s hockey team. Bourbeau, a Rhode Island native and former Providence College standout, is heading home, having recently taken the job as the new head coach of the Brown University women’s hockey team.

After Forging Winning Partnership with Kampersal, Bourbeau Leaves PU Women’s Hockey to Head Brown

Bill Alden

When Amy Bourbeau joined the staff of the Princeton University women’s hockey program in 1999 as an assistant coach, she didn’t view the job as a long-term proposition.

“I thought I would be there four or five years and move on after learning what I needed to learn,” said Bourbeau, a former star player at Providence College who had coached at Middlebury and Williams before coming to Princeton.

“I came specifically to work with Jeff [head coach Jeff Kampersal]. I had grown up as a forward and I needed to learn more about defense. Jeff was a defenseman and quite a good one.”

The pair ended up having quite a good run, staying together for 12 years in what was believed to be the longest existing partnership of its kind in the world of women’s Division 1 college hockey as of the 2010-11 season.

But the special pairing has come to an end as Bourbeau recently made the move to return to her native Rhode Island, taking the job as the head coach of the Brown University women’s hockey team.

In reflecting on her time at Princeton, Bourbeau, 37, is proud of the deep bond she developed with Kampersal.

“We worked well together; his strengths were my weaknesses and vice versa,” said Bourbeau.

“We were able to teach each other. Jeff played at Princeton and then coached there; he really only knew one system. I had played for two different coaches in college and I had coached at Middlebury and Williams. I knew different systems.”

While Kampersal had the sense he was getting a gem when he recruited Bourbeau to his coaching staff, her impact turned to be even greater than he hoped.

“We put the full-court press on her at a coaches convention in Florida,” recalled Kampersal.

“We knew that she was very professional, very mature, and very hardworking. She surpassed all expectations; she changed our culture. She was tough; she told players things in black and white. She was a complete pro. She was great with in-game adjustments.”

Bourbeau, for her part, enjoyed interacting with the Princeton players on the short and long term.

“I still talk with our alumni; I keep in touch with them,” said Bourbeau. “It is great when they come to our road games. They have big jobs; they are doctors, lawyers, and people in finance. They have families. It is why we do what we do. The players have become my family and I feel like I am leaving my family.”

Over 12 years, there were plenty of good times with her family as Bourbeau helped Princeton to the 2006 Ivy League title, two top-three ECACH finishes, and three 20-win campaigns.

“I think the Ivy title season in 2006 was a highlight,” said Bourbeau. “We definitely had good players. We had kids who competed day in, day out. The chemistry clicked. That may not have been our most talented team but the kids really competed. I will always remember last year with the goalie situation. We were going with a back-up [Rachel Weber]; we started 3-10 and then went 14-2 and she made second-team All-ECACH.”

Bourbeau herself was singled out this winter when she was honored by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) as its inaugural Women’s Ice Hockey Assistant Coach Award which recognizes the body of work by an assistant.

“That was humbling,” said Bourbeau. “You never expect awards like that; I was so honored and excited. It made a difference in what I am going to be doing now.”

In Kampersal’s view, Bourbeau will make a big difference at Brown, which hasn’t had a winning season since 2005-06.

“Amy is one of the most respected coaches in the sport,” said Kampersal, noting he will miss seeing Bourbeau’s family around Baker Rink, which included husband, Francois Bourbeau, the Hun School boys’ hockey coach and former goalie coach for the Tigers, and two-year old daughter, Anabelle.

“She’ll be fair; she’ll be good. She will generate an environment where those kids will play better.”

With Brown having gone 2-23-4 last winter, Bourbeau knows she faces a challenge in creating a winning environment around the program.

“I think the biggest challenge is recruiting; it is difficult when the program is in the basement because people are hesitant to commit,” said Bourbeau, who is replacing the retired Digit Murphy.

“I am going to try to change the culture and make the kids believe in themselves. I need to be positive and get as much out of the kids that are there. We will put in different systems.”

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