GRAHA Girls Coaching Staff Bios

Tae Otte is a current level 4 coach and GRAHA Girls Director. This will be her 7th season as a head coach of the GRAHA girls teams. Tae grew up playing youth hockey in the Grand Rapids area and finishing off her youth hockey career playing Tier 1 hockey in Detroit Michigan. She was then offered a scholarship to play NCAA Division 1 hockey at Lindenwood University where she served as the team captain for 3 seasons. At Lindenwood, she studied elementary and special education. After her college hockey career, she became a middle school special education teacher and hockey coach at GRAHA. In 2021 Tae decided to leave teaching and make coaching and growing the game of hockey her full time job. Since then she has been working as GRAHA Girls hockey director as well as running hockey camps and working with local teams on skill development and power skating. 

Cynthia is a current level 4 coach. This is her 1st season as head coach but 4th coaching this team, she was assistant coach in years past. Cynthia grew up in Grand Rapids playing boys house, played 4 years varsity in high school for GRPS, was the 1st girl captain of a boys high school team in Michigan and recipient of the Hobey Baker award her senior year of high school. She went on to play hockey in college for Davenport University where she earned her degree with a major in business management and minor in sports management. 

Amanda is in her first year coaching at GRAHA. She is 25 years old and grew up playing hockey in Illinois before coming to play college hockey at GVSU. While in college she pursued a degree in marketing and business management. Since college she has been active in various women's hockey programs both playing and coaching. She started a women's hockey program in Grand Rapids and has worked hard to provide a place for women to play hockey. Amanda is very excited to start her youth coaching career at GRAHA.

Chris is a current level 4 coach. This is his 2nd season as a head coach of the GRAHA Girls 14U team and 7th season as a coach with GRAHA. Chris grew up playing the Grand Rapids Area ending with 3 years of JV High School Hockey with Forest Hills Northern Eastern as a Goalie. Due to an injury, Chris began coaching at the age of 17 and was an Assistant Coach for 1 year with Forest Hills Northern Eastern JV followed by 5 years as an Assistant Coach for Wayland Union High School. Chris, seeing a shortage of officials in the game, is a level 3 official. Chris graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Behavioral Science Emphasis in Psychology. 

Coach Austin Hunt has been playing hockey since he was a child within the Greater Grand Rapids area, including playing for GRAHA. Growing up outside of Grand Rapids gave opportunities with other organizations throughout the State of Michigan. Austin played competitive hockey through high school. While studying at Michigan State University, Austin continued to play hockey as well as refereed for USA Hockey, MHSAA and NCAA (Women and Mens Division II/III). Returning to the State of Michigan a few years ago, Austin has once again renewed his desire to be involved with GRAHA as he has two daughters currently playing within the organization. His desire to instill the love of hockey into his players and further develop players is evident in/out of the rink.