The college hockey assistant coaching news keeps coming fast and furious. The latest big-name news comes out of Amherst as UMass associate head coach Jared DeMichiel is leaving the Minutemen to take on the same role at Michigan State.
DeMichiel’s departure is a serious blow to Greg Carvel’s staff at UMass, especially considering it comes on the heels of Ben Barr leaving last summer to become head coach at Maine. DeMichiel and Barr had both been at UMass for the entire Carvel era. DeMichiel, an Avon, Conn., native and Avon Old Farms alum, had spent two seasons with Carvel at St. Lawrence before the duo came to Amherst.
DeMichiel is joining newly minted head coach Adam Nightingale at Michigan State. DeMichiel, who played college hockey at Rochester Institute of Technology, has never worked outside of New England or New York, but he brings a wealth of experience recruiting in the USHL and has enjoyed success recruiting in Michigan while with the Minutemen.
Back to UMass, Carvel fired first-year assistant coach Matt Lindsay earlier this offseason. He filled that vacancy by promoting volunteer assistant Nolan Gluchowski, whom Carvel had coached while at St. Lawrence. As far as who could replace DeMichiel, it’s possible Carvel could go off the board and hire an experienced prep or midget coach. One serious candidate is Mount Saint Charles 18-U head coach Matt Plante, who played at Quinnipiac and has experience in the USHL as an assistant coach of the Indiana Ice.
Pandolfo completes his staff at BU
As New England Hockey Journal first reported, new Boston University head coach Jay Pandolfo has named Joe Pereira as his associate head coach. The West Haven, Conn., native and 2011 BU graduate comes to the Terriers after serving as an assistant coach under Mike Cavanaugh at UConn since 2013. The second assistant coach will be Kim Brandvold, a UMass Lowell alum who has been the Bruins' skating coach for four years.
Durocher out at Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart and first-year assistant coach Ryan Durocher have parted ways. With the Pioneers set to move into their new state-of-the-art rink next season, word is the school is looking to make a splash with a hire. A few big names are reportedly in the mix to join head coach CJ Marottolo and assistant coach Scott McDougall on the SHU staff.
New England Division 1 coaching changes this offseason
Head coach Jerry York - retired at Boston College
Greg Brown - hired as head coach at Boston College
Head coach Albie O’Connell - out at Boston University
Assistant coach Jay Pandolfo - promoted to head coach at Boston University
Associate head coach Joe Pereira - left UConn to take same position at Boston University
Assistant coach Len Quesnelle - out at Boston University
Kim Brandvold - hired as assistant coach at Boston University
Assistant coach Matt Linsday - fired at UMass
Volunteer assistant coach Nolan Gluchowski - promoted to full-time assistant at UMass
Associate head coach Jared DeMichiel - leaving for same position at Michigan State
Assistant coach Ryan Durocher - leaving Sacred Heart
Assistant coach Mike Pereira - hired at UConn to replace brother Joe
