CLINTON, N.Y. - Emily McNamara has been named women's ice hockey head coach at Hamilton College. McNamara joins the Continentals after a four-year stint as an assistant coach at Middlebury College.

She replaces Brendon Knight, who left Hamilton during the summer to take an assistant's job on the Syracuse University women's ice hockey coaching staff.

"I'm honored to come to a great school with high-quality and hard-working student-athletes," McNamara said. "The program has a strong foundation, and I hope to pick up where coach Knight left off. I'm looking forward to getting on campus, meeting the team and getting started."

McNamara helped guide Middlebury to an overall record of 78-20-11, including a 50-7-7 mark in NESCAC play, from 2007 to 2011. The Panthers captured NESCAC titles in 2009 and 2011 and made three NCAA Division III Championship appearances. Middlebury advanced to the national semifinals in 2009 and 2011 with McNamara's assistance.

Most recently, McNamara was co-head coach for the Under-16 Mid-Fairfield Connecticut Stars girls' ice hockey team in 2011-12. She has been an instructor at the Hamilton girls' hockey camp every summer since 2007.

McNamara enjoyed an outstanding playing career for at Middlebury from 2003 to 2007. She played in all 116 games on defense, posting 66 points on 22 goals and 44 assists. Over the course of her career, she helped lead the Panthers to an overall record of 100-13-3. McNamara made the NESCAC All-Conference First Team in 2005 and the Second Team in 2006.

Middlebury won three straight national titles from 2004 to 2006, and McNamara was placed on the 2005 NCAA All-Tournament Team. She helped the Panthers to NESCAC titles in 2005 and 2006.

"Emily has experienced great success, not only as a coach in the NESCAC, but as a student-athlete, as well," Director of Athletics Jon Hind '80 said. "We're excited about the level of energy, enthusiasm and knowledge for women's ice hockey that she brings to Hamilton."

As a senior, McNamara served as a team captain and earned a spot on the 2006-07 NESCAC Winter All-Academic Team. She was the 2007 winner of the Captain John Owen Memorial Award for dedication and support of the Middlebury women's ice hockey program. She graduated with a degree in English.

McNamara hails from North Hampton, N.H. and was a three-sport varsity athlete at Phillips Exeter Academy.