By Zack Sampson, News Staff
Former Brown University assistant coach Jerry Keefe and former Harvard University assistant coach Patrick Foley will serve as assistants to the men’s hockey team, new head coach Jim Madigan announced Wednesday.
Keefe and Foley will round out an entirely new coaching staff that hopes to improve on last year’s 14-16-8 record under head coach Greg Cronin and assistants Sebastien Laplante and Albie O’Connell.
Cronin accepted an assistant coaching position with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs in June, Laplante accepted one with the AHL’s Houston Aeros and O’Connell took a position with Harvard, swapping shoes with Foley.
Combined, Keefe and Foley have over a decade of coaching experience and both are Hockey East alumni.
“Jerry and Pat are quality people who possess a sharp set of communication skills, a keen understanding of the game and the ability to teach and develop our young student-athletes,” Madigan said in a press release Wednesday. “Each of them understands what it takes to succeed in Hockey East, calling upon their collegiate careers.”
Keefe was a four-year center with Providence College from 1996 to 2000. After graduating, he began a five-year professional hockey career, which included two years in Europe and time with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (AHL) and Trenton Titans (ECHL).
Foley played at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), graduating in 2004. He was the second UNH player ever to serve as captain for three straight seasons and anchored the Wildcats’ consecutive Hockey East championships and Frozen Four appearances in 2002 and 2003.
Before dressing for New Hampshire, Foley played for the U.S. National Under-18 Team and was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the sixth round with the 185th pick of the 2000 NHL Draft.
After their playing days ended, both men quickly jumped into coaching.
Keefe served as an assistant for one season with the University of Massachusetts–Boston in 2006-07. He then resurrected the Westfield State hockey program for the 2008-09 season after 20 years without a team. Keefe was able to recruit 27 student-athletes and led the Owls to a second-place finish in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference with an 11-9-4 record. Westfield State made the playoffs for the first time since 1980-81 under his direction.
Keefe spent his last two seasons behind Brown’s bench.
“Jerry has an extensive recruiting network that will allow our hockey program to attract top student-athletes to Northeastern,” Madigan said in the release. “Additionally, Jerry’s previous coaching experience will be critical in developing our student-athletes and preparing them for future opportunities in hockey.”
Foley got his start in coaching with the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP). He was part of the staff that directed NTDP teams to a gold medal at the 2005 Four Nations tournament in Finland and a silver medal at the 2006 Five Nations in Russia.
He also helped guide the U.S. National U-18 Team to a gold medal in the 2006 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Under-18 World Championship and a silver medal at the 2007 championship.
In 2008, Foley was an assistant coach for the U.S. National Junior Team at the IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic.
While at Harvard, Foley specialized in working with the defensive unit and special teams. In his first year with the Crimson, Foley’s penalty-killing unit staved off 84.9 percent of the power plays it faced, good for 24th best nationally and tops in ECAC Hockey. He also helped lead the Crimson to the 2008 Beanpot and ECAC Hockey title games.
“Pat brings a blend of youth and coaching experience that few his age possess,” Madigan said. “He has coached at the collegiate and international level and has surrounded himself with some of the top hockey minds in the game. Pat will use his recruiting and coaching experiences to attract and teach our student-athletes.”
Foley’s father, Kevin, played football for Northeastern from 1972 to 1974 and during the 1976 season.
Look for Keefe, Foley and Madigan behind the bench during the Huskies’ scrimmage against St. Francis Xavier Sunday, Oct. 2 at Matthews Arena at 7 p.m. Northeastern opens the season at home against Massachusetts Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.
