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Western New England has named Matt Smith as the following head coach of the Golden Bears males’s hockey staff.
Smith joins WNE because the seventh head coach in program historical past and takes over for Mike Younger, who stepped down earlier this offseason.
“I’m thrilled to announce Matt Smith as the brand new head coach of the Western New England Golden Bears males’s hockey staff,” mentioned WNE director of athletics Jenn Kolins in an announcement. “Matt’s huge hockey expertise, information, and keenness for the game will function a transformational expertise for our student-athletes. His distinctive historical past of participant improvement each on and off the ice in any respect ranges, with an emphasis on character, integrity, and competitiveness, aligns with our core values. We look ahead to welcoming Matt and his household to the WNE group and are excited to look at the heights to which he’ll convey the WNE hockey program.”
No stranger to the Division III world, Smith most not too long ago served as an assistant coach for Amherst underneath legendary coach Jack Area. Whereas at Amherst, Smith was accountable for the protection facet of the puck and engaged in all facets of programming, together with recruiting efforts, working video evaluation, observe and sport planning, and participant improvement.
“I’m grateful for the chance and excited for the chapter forward. It’s a privilege to steer NCAA student-athletes within the hockey hotbed of Massachusetts,” mentioned Smith. “All vitality and energy are targeted on elevating the competitiveness and profile of this system. I look ahead to working with colleagues from throughout the campus group to reinforce the WNE student-athlete expertise.”
Previous to his work with Amherst, Smith was the video coordinator for the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres the place he was tasked with helping all coaches with breaking down footage to help sport planning and observe preparation. Smith was additionally closely concerned with the Sabres improvement camps, prospect camps, and coaching camp.
Earlier than becoming a member of the Sabres group, Smith was this system director and head varsity coach at Saint Ignatius School Prep Excessive Faculty in Chicago for six seasons. Smith took the varsity from an underperforming hockey establishment right into a regional powerhouse that contended for each league and state titles. Smith led the staff to 4 Kennedy Cup match appearances, together with the primary Kennedy Cup championship in 2022. Smith was named Beginner Hockey Affiliation of Illinois Excessive Faculty Coach of the Yr in 2019 and was additionally acknowledged by the Chicago Catholic Hockey League 4 occasions in his profession because the coach of the 12 months.
Outdoors of teaching, Smith made a number of connections, together with one with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, to change into the highschool anchor tenant of the Blackhawks’ new observe facility. He additionally created the first-ever hockey endowment for the Saint Ignatius School Prep hockey program.
Smith’s extra experiences with the state of Illinois embody director of hockey for the Chicago Jets Hockey Membership and director of athletics for Acero Colleges. He’s additionally a daily participant in USA Hockey Participant Improvement Camps and Symposiums.
Smith performed collegiately at Lawrence, the place he captained the Vikings throughout his senior season. Smith graduated from Lawrence with a level in authorities in 1995. He furthered his training by receiving his grasp of arts diploma in political science from the College of Essex a 12 months later as a Rotary Basis Ambassadorial Scholar.
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