For the first time in 28 years, Boston College’s men’s hockey program has had to find a new head coach. Jerry York, the program’s bench boss for nearly three decades and the winningest head coach in NCAA hockey history, announced his retirement from coaching on April 14th, and since then the Eagles have been searching for his successor. Today, they announced their choice. Greg Brown, one of York’s former assistants, was tapped for the role, and he will become just the fifth Boston College men’s hockey head coach in history. Brown has some NHL experience, having served as an assistant on David Quinn’s staff when Quinn coached the New York Rangers from 2018-2021. Brown had the following to say about his appointment:
I cannot be more excited to come back to Boston College, which has been such an important part of my life as a student-athlete, coach, and parent. I am truly honored to be named coach, and to succeed my coaching mentor and friend Jerry York. I can’t wait to begin this next chapter in my life and in the proud history of BC hockey.
Boston College had a tough 2021-22 campaign, going 15-18-5, but there is hope for a quick turnaround considering the program’s prior success. Brown saw that success closely, having been on York’s staff when the Eagles captured three NCAA championships in a five-year span from 2007-08 to 2011-12. Boston College also has NHL prospects currently on its roster, such as Aidan Hreschuk and Trevor Kuntar, so it’s possible the earliest barometer of Brown’s success will be how well those drafted prospects develop.
Now, for some other notes on coaching across the hockey landscape:
- Some more coaching shuffling has occurred, as USA Hockey has cemented its new coach for the US National Team Development Program’s under-17 team, Nick Fohr. Fohr, 44, has been an associate coach at the USNTDP for the past five years, and comes into his role with some ringing endorsements. USA Hockey released statements about Fohr from numerous NHL sources, including stars he coached such as Zach Werenski and Charlie McAvoy. The NTDP role is about player development first and foremost, so if the names singing Fohr’s praises are any indication, he’ll do just fine with this new responsibility.
- Fohr’s new opportunity comes by way of the departure of the USNTDP’s former under-17 head coach, Adam Nightingale. Nightingale left his post to become head coach at Michigan State, his alma mater. Michigan State is one of the more historic programs in NCAA hockey but has struggled in recent years to live up to its past. Nightingale has NHL experience, having worked on the coaching staff of the Detroit Red Wings from 2017-18 to 2019-20, and he has also worked for Michigan State in the past, serving as their director of hockey operations. Given the state of the program in recent years, Spartans fans have to hope that its Nightingale who can wake the sleeping giant that is Michigan State hockey.