Albie O’Connell will be named the next head coach of the Boston University men’s hockey team, according to multiple sources. The BU job became open when David Quinn left after five seasons to become the head coach of the NHL’s New York Rangers. O’Connell has been on Quinn’s staff for the past four seasons, doing...
Albie O’Connell will be named the next head coach of the Boston University men’s hockey team, according to multiple sources.
The BU job became open when David Quinn left after five seasons to become the head coach of the NHL’s New York Rangers. O’Connell has been on Quinn’s staff for the past four seasons, doing heavy work on the recruiting circuit.
O’Connell, 42, played for the Terriers from 1995-1999, serving as captain as a senior. The Watertown, Mass., native scored 42 goals and added 66 assists for 108 points in 149 collegiate games.
Following a brief minor pro career that spanned the ECHL and Europe, O’Connell jumped into coaching. O’Connell worked his way up from his first job as a Division III assistant to now being considered one of the top assistants in college hockey.
His first job was at Division III Colby College during the 2003-04 season before moving to Niagara for two seasons. From there, he went to Merrimack and Holy Cross for one season at each program.
In 2008, he joined Greg Cronin’s staff at Northeastrn where he stayed until 2011. O'Connell spent the next three seasons working for Ted Donato at Harvard. Then, O'Connell joined Quinn’s staff at his alma mater for the 2014-15 season as an assistant coach. He was promoted to associate head coach the following season.
O’Connell reportedly beat out two other finalists, Union College head coach Rick Bennett and Rivers School head coach Shawn McEachern, a BU alum who went onto a prosperous NHL career.
There was a long list of possible candidates due to the rich tradition at BU. Rumors surrounded Jay Pandolfo and Joe Sacco, both former BU players who are now assistant coaches with the Boston Bruins, but neither had a degree.
Buffalo Sabres Assistant GM Steve Greeley’s name was bandied about, but he remains on track to become a NHL general manager in the not too distant future.
