The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has named Heather Weems as served as the new conference commissioner. She will be the first woman to serve in the role. Weems has served as the Athletics Director of St. Cloud State University since 2012. During this time she has made a lasting impact on the experience of athletes and the broader campus community.
“It has been an honor to work with Heather during my past 4 years at St. Cloud State University. She has been at the forefront of ensuring that our athletic coaches and campus recreation staff were able to provide highest quality experiences for our students, student-athletes, faculty, staff, community and fans,” said St. Cloud State President Robbyn Wacker. “Her commitment to St. Cloud State has been remarkable and she has accomplished so much while here. I wish her the best of success in her new position and I look forward to working with her in her new role to advance the success of the NCHC.”
Under Weems leadership, St. Cloud State’s athletic programs have won five NCAA Division II wrestling national championships including the University’s first ever national championship in 2015, while the men’s hockey program advanced the NCAA Frozen Four twice (2013, 2021), including its first-ever trip to the national championship game in 2021. The Huskies have won 28 team conference titles under Weems, highlighted by 10 straight conference titles from its wrestling program and five NSIC titles from women’s swim and dive. This past season (2021-22), volleyball captured its first regular season conference title since 1982 and its first conference postseason title overall, while women’s basketball won its first regular season conference title since 1983-84. In her tenure, Weems has overseen 51 NCAA Tournaments berths, 219 NCAA All-Americans, five individual NCAA National Champions and 19 Academic All-Americans in addition to hundreds on all-conference and academic all-conference honorees. Off the field, 76 Huskies have been named NSIC Myles Brand award recipients, given annually to NSIC student-athletes who have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher while exhausting their eligibility, while eight earned NSIC Elite 18 honors, instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
“I am equal parts excited and disappointed to see Heather Weems named the next NCHC commissioner,” said St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey Coach Brett Larson. “Heather has been an incredible advocate for our program and the athletic department during her tenure in St. Cloud, and I can’t wait to see her continue her excellent work at the conference office. She is the ideal candidate to keep pushing our league forward while remaining at the forefront of collegiate hockey. With that being said, I am sad to see her depart St. Cloud State Athletics. Her daily commitment to the Men’s Hockey program and all Husky student athletes allowed for us to provide the best experience possible for student athletes at SCSU. She will be missed here on campus, but we wish her the best of luck in her new role, the commissioner of the premier conference in college hockey.”
Weems’ last day on campus will be June 7. St. Cloud State will begin the process of conducting a search for the athletic director position immediately.
If you have the NCHC app just open it to learn more about Heather Weems.
New NCHC Hockey Commissioner a graduate of DU has an extensive 20 year background with the NCHC & WCHA. She’s been on the frontline of what’s been great about those conferences. I look forward to watching the NCHC continue to blossom now under her leadership.