Holy Cross has hired longtime Quinnipiac associate head coach Bill Riga to be the new head coach of the Crusaders’ hockey program.
Riga replaces David Berard, who stepped down after seven seasons to become associate athletic director for men's and women's hockey at his alma mater, Providence College.
Riga, 46, grew up in nearby Westboro, Mass., before attending St. Mark’s School and playing collegiately at UMass Lowell. Riga played for the River Hawks from 1992-96. After a short stint in minor league hockey that lasted less than a year, Riga began his coaching career.
He spent seven seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Boston Junior Bruins. In 2003, he took his first job in college hockey as an assistant coach at Union. He stayed with the Dutchmen for five seasons until he headed back to New England to work under Rand Pecknold at Quinnipiac.
From 2008-14, Riga was an assistant coach at Quinnipiac. Following the 2013-14 season, he was elevated to associate head coach. During his time in Hamden, the Bobcats advanced to the Frozen Four twice, in 2013 and 2016.
Riga has long been mentioned when college coaching vacancies would come up. His track record of success as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac speaks for itself. His background in junior hockey and being from the area will serve him well as he looks to build Holy Cross back into a contender in Atlantic Hockey.
Riga beat out several other prominent assistant coaches. It was believed that Clarkson associate head coach Josh Hauge, Norwich head coach Cam Ellsworth, Boston University associate head coach Paul Pearl, New Hampshire associate head coach Glenn Stewart, Brown assistant coach Jason Guerriero, Dartmouth assistant coach Jason Tapp, and former NHL standout and BU alum Shawn McEachern also were candidates of varying degrees.
Black Bears closing in on next bench boss
Maine is expected to name its next head coach in the very near future. The Black Bears were left searching for a replacement to Red Gendron, who tragically passed away last month due to a cardiac incident.
Maine athletic director Ken Ralph appointed Ben Guite as the program’s interim head coach. It is believed Guite, an alum, is a frontrunner to take the job on a permanent basis. Others in the mix to become the next face of the Black Bears are alum Jack Capuano – a former NHL head coach and current assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators — UMass associate head coach Ben Barr and American International head coach Eric Lang.
Vermont’s Hill takes job in Europe
Vermont assistant coach Jeff Hill has taken a job as the goaltending coach of the SC Bern, a team in Switzerland. Hill had been on the staff at his alma mater since the 2015-16 season, serving as director of hockey operations and assistant coach. Hill was a backup goaltender for the Catamounts from 2004-08.
Second-year Vermont head coach Todd Woodcroft is interviewing candidates for the opening. Possible replacements for Hill include Division 3, Atlantic Hockey and USHL assistant coaches. In other news out of Burlington, volunteer assistant coach Mark Stuart is leaving UVM to take a full-time assistant job at his alma mater, Colorado College. The Tigers recently hired former Providence assistant Kris Mayotte to be the program’s next head coach. Mayotte, a Union alum, spent the past two seasons on the Michigan staff.
