Wilkes males’s hockey assistant coach Bennett, who has a ‘deep understanding of the sport,’ named new head coach at King’s

King’s has introduced Race Bennett as the subsequent males’s hockey head coach.

Bennett, who takes over for Tom Seravalli, who stepped down in August, turns into this system’s third full-time head coach within the younger program’s historical past and commenced his duties on Sept. 4 forward of the 2025-26 season.

“We’re thrilled to announce that Race Bennett might be main our males’s ice hockey program into an thrilling new chapter at King’s,” mentioned King’s govt director of athletics and recreation Andy Orlowski in a press release. “Race comes from a storied hockey lineage the place teaching and management are second nature (his father Rick beforehand coached at Union and performed at Windfall). His deep understanding of the sport, mixed together with his relentless drive and fervour, make him the best individual to information our staff ahead.”

Bennett comes from a latest stint at close by Wilkes the place he served because the assistant throughout the 2024-25 season that noticed the Colonels declare the MAC regular-season title, put up a 17-8-2 general report, and seem within the prime 20 rankings in NCAA Division III all through the season, reaching as excessive as eleventh nationally. He was accountable for particular groups, together with the third-ranked energy play within the nation, and helped foster the staff tradition that was inclusive, aggressive, and productive.

Bennett performed a big position in recruiting potential student-athletes, growing and operating day by day practices. Moreover, he assisted with the scouting report, compliance and budgeting, and journey logistics.

“I’m actually honored to turn out to be the subsequent head coach of the King’s males’s ice hockey program,” mentioned Bennett. “I need to thank govt director of athletics and recreation Andy Orlowski, vice chairman of scholar affairs Dr. McShea, and your complete athletic division for this unimaginable alternative. King’s Faculty has a powerful custom of educational and athletic excellence, and I’m excited to construct on that basis. I can’t wait to assist the student-athletes develop on the ice, within the classroom, and locally. Go Monarchs.”

Previous to his time in Wilkes-Barre, Bennett labored at Paul Vincent Hockey since 2017 as the pinnacle skilled, collegiate, and youth teacher, main group periods for athletes ages 5-25 and of various group sizes from 10-30 individuals. He additionally had stints with the Albany Academies since 2023, and Boone Bennett Hockey because the proprietor since 2024 whereas finishing an internship with Michael Donoghue and the Florida Panthers in 2017.

“He brings an infectious vitality and a hands-on method that may resonate all through the locker room and past,” mentioned Orlowski. “Race might be a gradual, inspiring presence in our gamers’ lives, on and off the ice. The way forward for males’s ice hockey at King’s has by no means regarded brighter, and we are able to’t wait to see how far this program can go beneath his management.”

Bennett is a 2023 graduate of Colorado State with a level in interdisciplinary liberal arts and a minor in enterprise and spent a season on the lads’s hockey staff.