Stefanie McKeough leaving Fleet for assistant coaching job with Seattle Torrent

Sport admin July 22, 2026 0 Comments

Stefanie McKeough leaving Fleet for assistant coaching job with Seattle Torrent

Stefanie McKeough, an assistant coach for the Fleet through the first three PWHL seasons, will join the Seattle Torrent as an assistant ahead of the 2026-27 season, the Torrent announced Tuesday.

The move marks the second change to the Fleet’s coaching staff this offseason following the departure of coach Kris Sparre, who was replaced in June by François Méthot.

McKeough, who Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer said is “absolutely ready to be head coach in this league,” was on the Fleet’s short list to take over following Sparre’s departure, but Méthot was a better fit for the team’s development needs, Marmer said.

“Stef has been an integral part of building the culture and foundation of the Fleet since the inaugural season,” Marmer said in a statement to the Globe on Tuesday. “The positive impact she has had on our players and staff will be felt long after she’s gone. We’re incredibly grateful for her contributions and wish her nothing but the best in Seattle.”

Marmer told the Globe after the PWHL Draft in June she expected Méthot would retain all of the assistant coaches from last season, including McKeough, Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman, and Derek Whitmore. The latter two, hired prior to last season, remain with the team.

McKeough was the last remaining member of Boston’s coaching staff who had been with the team since the inaugural season.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the Torrent and get to know the Seattle community and amazing fans,” McKeough said in a release. “I am excited to get to work with great players and staff to continue building an environment where players can grow, compete, and be their best every day.”

In Seattle, McKeough will work under first-year coach Christine Bumstead and reunite with Torrent general manager Meghan Turner, who was the assistant GM in Boston for two seasons.

“Stefanie is a uniquely exciting addition to our team as we build toward our second season,” Turner said in a release. “Having worked with her firsthand, I have been impressed by her analytical mind and her ability to consistently elevate others. Her proven experience as an elite player and a foundational coach in our league will help strengthen our culture and reinforce our standards as we pursue sustained success this year and beyond.”

McKeough was part of the Boston staff that led the team to a Walter Cup Finals appearance in the inaugural season, and this past season helped guide the Fleet to a PWHL-record 62 points and 16 regulation wins. She served as interim head coach for one game — a 5-1 win over Vancouver — while Sparre was away for the birth of his second child.