Sports News
Whitmore will assist new head coach François Méthot.
Fleet center Susanna Tapani (77) is the top scoring forward returning to Boston for next season. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
July 29, 2026 | 10:17 AM
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As the Fleet’s offseason shakeup continues, development coach Derek Whitmore was promoted to assistant coach ahead of the 2026-27 PWHL season, the team announced Wednesday.
“Derek’s knowledge of the game, contagious enthusiasm, and genuine passion for this team are evident every day,” Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer said in a release. “He has built strong relationships with our players, earned the respect of our staff, and played an integral role in the success we achieved this past season.”
Whitmore and fellow assistant coach Jordan LaVallée-Smotherman, both hired last summer to work under Kris Sparre, will assist new head coach François Méthot. Lenny Mosca (goaltending coach) and Shawn Roche (video coach) round out the staff.
“We have an incredible group of players and an outstanding staff, and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity,” Whitmore said in the release. “To me, it’s more than just a game, it’s about being around good people who empower you and challenge you to be the best version of yourself each and every day.”
The announcement follows the departure of former assistant coach Stefanie McKeough, who earlier this month accepted an assistant coach position with the Seattle Torrent. McKeough was the final remaining member of the coaching staff who had been with the Fleet since the PWHL’s first season.
Prior to joining the Fleet, Whitmore lived in Maine and ran Whitmore Hockey Development, specializing in player advising and advancement, player development, and video analysis for youth and college players.
He previously served as an assistant coach with the USHL’s Chicago Steel from 2021-2023 where he worked with over 20 NHL draft picks, including Adam Fantilli, Macklin Celebrini, and Jackson Blake. During the 2020-2021 season he was an assistant coach at Mercyhurst and from 2018-2020 he spent time as an assistant coach with the women’s team at Bowdoin.
