William E. McCormick, who was head coach of the Williams (Mass.) College men’s hockey team for 35 seasons, passed away last month in Spring Hill, Fla., at the age of 88.
McCormick came to Williams in 1953 to work as the freshman coach and became the program’s head coach the next season. During his distinguished career, he was elected president of the American Hockey Coaches Association and served as a member of the Ice Hockey Rules Committee of the NCAA. At the time of his retirement, he had coached longer at a single school than any of his peers.
The leading scorer for two seasons during his playing days at Michigan State, he compiled a 317-331-20 coaching record at Williams. He was chosen New England Coach of the Year in 1961-62 when his 16-3-1 team beat Army, Brown, Cornell and Penn.
