EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – Chris Lombardo, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey assistant coach, is the 2022 Ade & Margaret Olson Coaching Award recipient. He will be recognized for his award at the Blugold Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, October 7. Mary Schoenknecht, Ade & Margaret Olson's daughter, will present the award.
The Ade & Margaret Olson Coaching Award is a $500 cash stipend available to any part-time assistant coach, graduate assistant or community coach in any of the 25 sports in the Blugold sports module. The award honors the memory of two UW-Eau Claire legends who dedicated their teaching careers to helping students achieve their education goals. Ade Olson was a charter member of the Blugold Hall of Fame in 1973. The criteria for the award named in honor of Olson and his wife, Margaret, dictate that the recipient "demonstrate a deep commitment to the student-athletes and embody a passion for lifelong learning and a love of the game."
Lombardo is beginning his sixth season with Head Coach Erik Strand and the highly-successful Blugold women's hockey program which has made four straight NCAA tournament appearances. Every year that Lombardo has been a member of the coaching staff, the Blugolds have played in the WIAC tournament championship game. Strand says that Lombardo "has a relentless passion for helping our Blugolds become the best version of themselves possible." He adds that on the Blugold staff, Lombardo "is definitely the coach who can bring out a smile or lift a player up if they're having an off day." Strand praises Lombardo for being "quick to boost the players up with a compliment and help reassure them that not every moment is easy, but every moment is a necessary part of the building process."
With Lombardo largely responsible for the defense and goaltending, the Blugolds have allowed 1.6 goals per game or less in each of the past five seasons. During that time, Erin Connolly earned All-American honors as a goalie and Holly Turnbull received All-American recognition as a defenseman.
Lombardo has had a long, successful and productive career in hockey. The New York native was Director of Hockey Operations and Development at the Brewster Ice Arena in Brewster, NY. He coached with the Westchester Express AAA program and the Brewsters Jr Bulldogs junior teams for 15 seasons. In his tenure, he had the privilege of seeing 12 former Westchester Express players have their names called in the NHL draft and six players were chosen to play for the United States Player Development Program. Three of his former Express defensemen are enjoying careers in the NHL in Steven Santini (New Jersey Devils), Brett Pesce (Carolina Hurricanes) and Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins).
Lombardo also ed the Mahopac High School varsity for five seasons. He was an All-State high school hockey player in New York but chose to play Division I baseball at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY.
Lombardo came to Eau Claire because his wife Erica, who is a Special Education Aide at DeLong Middle School, is from the Eau Claire area. Lombardo is currently a Crisis Supervisor at the Eau Claire Academy. The couple has three children: Emmeline, age 10; Juliet, age 9; and George, age 6. The Lombardos stay active with their children who are involved in competitive dance, hockey, softball, gymnastics and baseball.
Strand points out that Lombardo "is never looking for the recognition or accolades, but pursues everything with a sincere passion of helping make each Blugold better while having a second to none experience in the process."
Prepared by Tim Petermann, Sports Information Director emeritus
