MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State Director of Athletics, Kevin Buisman has extended head women's hockey coach Shari Dickerman's contract through the 2030-31 season.

Dickerman, who began her tenure as a goaltender at Minnesota State in 2000, was named the program's head coach on March 11, 2024, after serving as an assistant coach for the program since 2009.

In her short time at Minnesota State, the Mavericks have played to a 31-40-4 record. This past season, the Mavericks finished 17-19-2, establishing a program record for wins. Additionally, Minnesota State advanced to the semifinals of the WCHA Final Faceoff for just the second time in program history after defeating Minnesota Duluth in a best-of-three series in the opening round of the playoffs.

"Coach Dickerman has demonstrated the type of leadership and long-term vision we value in Maverick Athletics," said Buisman. "Under her direction, our women's hockey program has shown steady and measurable progress in performance that is the direct result of attracting an incredible base of young talent into the program.

Shari's connections to Team USA, including helping guide them to the Olympic gold medal this winter, bring a level of credibility and perspective that directly benefits our student-athletes and is an asset in the recruitment process. Beyond that, Shari's longstanding loyalty to this program—as both a student-athlete and now as a coach make her success especially gratifying.  This extension reflects our confidence in her continued leadership and our excitement for where she will take Maverick women's hockey in the years ahead."

Dickerman has also been a mainstay with the USA Women's National program over the past three years. Since 2023, Dickerman has helped Team USA win an Olympic Gold Medal (2026), two IIHF Senior Women's World Championships (2025, 2023) and an IIHF Senior Women's World silver medal (2024). 

"I am grateful for all the opportunities that I have had here at Minnesota State as both a student-athlete and coach.  The support for our program from President Inch, Kevin Buisman and the entire Maverick Athletic Department is second to none." said Dickerman. "We have a strong foundation here and are looking forward to continuing to build the program into a yearly contender for the conference and national championship.  We play in the best league in the country, and we will continue to ascend until we reach the top and when we get there, we plan to stay."

Over the course of her career as both a player and coach at Minnesota State, Dickerman has either competed with or coached nearly 90% of the school's all-time player roster.