Jerry York Retires As Head Coach Of Boston College

The winningest coach in NCAA hockey history is hanging up his whistle. Jerry York, head coach of Boston College for the past 28 years, has announced his retirement. Director of Athletics Patrick Kraft released the following statement:

It is difficult to put into words all that Jerry York means to Boston College. His record as the winningest coach in NCAA men’s ice hockey and BC hockey speak for themselves, but it is his humility, decency, unwavering commitment to his players, fellow coaches, and all of us in the BC family, and the quiet ways in which he contributes to this community that make him so beloved. He is a legend and one of the classiest individuals to ever coach in college sports. It has been a joy to work with him, and on behalf of all of us in the BC community I wish him, Bobbie, and his entire family the very best in his retirement years.

In 1993, York left Bowling Green State for BC, and found a program that was in trouble. In the years since, he turned it into one of college hockey’s powerhouses, winning the national championship in 2001, 2008, 2010, and 2012. His team won the Hockey East Tournament nine times, and was named Hockey East Coach of the Year on five different occasions. Nearly countless NHL and AHL players have come through the BC program with York at its helm, including names like Johnny Gaudreau, Cam Atkinson, Kevin Hayes, Noah Hanifin, Chris Kreider, Alex Tuch, and many, many more. Jack McBain, who debuted last night for the Arizona Coyotes, is the latest product to hit NHL ice.

One of the most well-respected and well-liked coaches in all of North American hockey, York was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019 in the builder category, and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2020. There are few people who have had a bigger impact on the game in the U.S.

In his retirement, York explained that he told his coaches and players of his retirement today. It is based on a desire to “travel more with his wife, Bobbie, play golf for the first time during a weekend in the fall, spend more time with his family, and watch his two grandchildren play hockey, lacrosse, and soccer games in Pittsburgh.”