Saint Michael's Grad Coaches U.S. Women's Hockey to Gold

A former college hockey player who balanced classes, practice, and nearly full-time shifts at Costco just helped lead the U.S. Women's Hockey Team to Olympic gold.

Brent Hill graduated from Saint Michael's College in 2004 after nearly walking away from hockey entirely. He had played junior hockey in Canada but stepped away from the sport, unsure if he could afford to continue his dream while supporting himself financially.

Everything changed when Saint Michael's hockey coach Lou DiMasi saw something special in Hill. While other programs told him balancing college hockey with a full-time job was impossible, DiMasi believed Hill could do it.

Hill worked nearly 30 hours per week at Costco in Colchester, Vermont while playing Division II hockey. His senior year, all that time management paid off when Saint Michael's won the NE10 championship.

"If it wasn't for St. Mike's and the people there, none of this would have happened," Hill said.

After graduating with a business degree, Hill climbed through collegiate coaching ranks at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Merrimack University, and Quinnipiac University. His dedication to relationships and community, lessons he learned from his tight-knit Saint Michael's team, became the foundation of his coaching philosophy.

In February 2026, Hill stood behind the bench as assistant coach when Team USA faced Canada for Olympic gold in Milano-Cortina. The atmosphere was deafening, the intensity unlike anything he had experienced, even at world championship games.

Then Megan Keller scored the overtime winner. The United States had won 2-1.

"It's almost like, 'did that really just happen?'" Hill remembered. "And then the emotion just hits you, mostly for the players and just everything they've sacrificed."

The Ripple Effect

Hill's journey from working the aisles at Costco to celebrating on Olympic ice shows how one person believing in you can change everything. Coach DiMasi saw potential when others saw obstacles, offering Hill both a roster spot and the confidence that his ambitious schedule could work.

That same philosophy now guides Hill's coaching. He focuses on building deep connections with players and creating environments where everyone feels valued, regardless of playing time or status. The brotherhood he experienced at a small Vermont college became the blueprint for developing Olympic champions.

Following the gold medal victory, USA Hockey named Hill head scout for the U.S. Women's National Team. The kid who once thought he'd have to give up hockey forever now helps shape the future of the sport at its highest level.