Gilmour Academy Director of Hockey Mike Chiellino announced the hiring of Nicholas Ponce de Leon as head coach of the girls 16U and 19U (Prep) hockey teams this afternoon.

 

Coach Ponce de Leon brings extensive coaching experience to his new role. Most recently, he served as the head coach for the Girls 16U and 19U teams at Team Illinois Tier 1 (AAA), where his 16U team was one of the best Tier 1 (AAA) teams in the country this year. He simultaneously served as the director of development and operations with PDL Elite Hockey in Chicago, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations as well as revenue and the growth and development of the program.  

 

In his role with Team Illinois, Coach Ponce de Leon was tasked with recruiting players and staff as well as assisting his players with the college recruiting process. He has an impressive record of placing his girls hockey players at the next level and utilizes his extensive network within the collegiate hockey community. In just the past two years with Team Illinois' 16U and 19U Tier 1 (AAA) program, he placed girls and/or made connections with the following college programs as well as multiple ACHA programs:

 

Prior to taking on his coaching position with Team Illinois, Coach Ponce de Leon served as the girls hockey director at the Wilmette Braves Hockey Organization, where his teams won back-to-back Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) championships in 2018 and 2019 and his team finished third in the state in 2019. During his tenure, he grew the Tier 2 girls organization to double its size in just two years and promoted many of the players to the Tier 1 (AAA) level. Coach Ponce de Leon has also coached high school boys hockey with Lane Tech and the AWFM Renegades.

 

Coach Ponce de Leon graduated from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, where he earned his bachelor's degree in aviation administration and played hockey. 

 

In addition to his coaching role at Gilmour, Coach Ponce de Leon will serve on the faculty as a physical education and health instructor.

 

"Coach Ponce de Leon's background in player development through PDL Elite Hockey and his coaching philosophy align incredibly well with the philosophy of the Gilmour hockey program," Chiellino said. "His ability to effectively communicate and collaborate as well as advocate for his players at the college level are second-to-none. His skill development model, philosophy and emphasis on culture will be an asset not only to our girls hockey program, but to Gilmour Academy as a whole."

 

After accepting the position, Coach Ponce de Leon said, "I'm truly excited to be here at Gilmour Academy and hit the ground running. I'm looking forward to continuing to push this program to greater heights and help these players reach their fullest potential. One of my favorite quotes that best represents what I will bring to Gilmour Academy is, 'You get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within.'"