MINNEAPOLIS -- Jill Pohtilla, who coached the Augsburg College women's hockey team through the first 15 years of its existence, has announced her resignation, college officials announced on Monday.

In her 15 seasons, Pohtilla compiled a 171-177-30 record, standing third among NCAA Division III women's hockey coaches in career victories and 20th among all collegiate women's hockey coaches in wins.

“We thank Jill for a great career,” said Augsburg athletic director Jeff Swenson. “She gave birth to the Augsburg women's hockey program and we are forever indebted to her for that accomplishment. Most of all, we thank her for directing the program with class and being a great leader for the last 15 years. Jill is a wonderful and caring person, and we wish her the best of luck in the future.”

In 1995, Pohtilla was named head coach of the Auggies, establishing the program as the first collegiate varsity women's hockey program in the Midwest. Under her leadership, Augsburg won Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season titles in 1998-99 and 1999-2000, and the conference playoff championship in 1999-2000. Augsburg qualified for the MIAC postseason playoffs four times under Pohtilla.

“Fifteen years ago, Augsburg College offered me the opportunity to be its first women's ice hockey coach. At that time, Augsburg was the only varsity team in the Midwest. It was in our third year that two other Midwestern college programs began at the varsity level, and there are now 29 Midwestern teams,” Pohtilla said. “Augsburg College was the catalyst to providing female student-athletes with the opportunity to play hockey in college, and I am proud to know I had a hand in making it happen.”

Augsburg competed in the first Division III national tournament, the American Women's College Hockey Alliance tournament in Boston, Mass., in 2000, finishing second to Middlebury (Vt.).

Under Pohtilla's leadership, eight players earned women's hockey All-American honors in program history. A total of 150 players have competed as a part of the Augsburg women's hockey program in its first 15 seasons.

“I've loved coaching more than I can say,” Pohtilla said. “I have had the great privilege of working with an outstanding body of students. I have fond memories of watching quiet, sometimes unconfident, young women find themselves and turn into leaders, mothers, teachers, coaches and role models. I've loved watching the light bulb go on. I've cherished seeing a player commit the time necessary to excel, only to have that surpassed by her pride in knowing she 'did it,' whether it was on the ice, in the classroom, or in her personal life.

“Coaching has made me a better person, and challenged me in many positive ways. However, I'm at a point in which I feel it's time to turn the program's reins over. I've found I am very passionate about higher education, particularly athletics and the growth of student-athletes as individuals and leaders, so I hope to find other employment that allows me opportunities to contribute to college athletics and to enhance the student-athlete experience. I have found a 'home' at Augsburg, and I'm proud of being an Auggie."

Pohtilla has been a strong supporter of women's hockey, both locally and throughout the country. Pohtilla was instrumental in developing the Midwestern Collegiate Women's Hockey Alliance, and later was part of the formulation of women's hockey as a varsity sport in the MIAC.

She was president of the Minnesota Girls' and Women's Hockey Association in 1989-90 and served as secretary/treasurer of the American Women's Hockey Coaches Association from 2000-04. Pohtilla also served from 2000-04 on the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Committee, which oversees the sport's national championships.

Several times, most recently in 2009, she served as a coach at the United States Olympic Women's Hockey Development Camp, coaching teams of 15-16 and 17-18 year olds. Pohtilla was also one of two coaches who participated in the 2010 U.S. Olympic team's open tryouts in May 2009.

In 2006, her peers in Minnesota honored her with induction into the Women's Hockey Association of Minnesota (WHAM) Hall of Fame. In 1998, the Minnesota Coalition to Promote Women in Athletic Leadership awarded Pohtilla its "Breaking Barriers Award" on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.