Curtis Carr Named Assistant Hockey Coach

Curtis Carr, formerly the Head Coach and General Manager of Youngstown (USHL) has been named assistant hockey coach at as announced by head coach Mark Dennehy.

Carr guided Youngstown to a 23-30-7 record in 2010-11 in his first season as Head Coach and General Manager. He spent five years in the Phantom organization, also serving as Associate Head Coach and Director of Player Development in 2009-10.

“We were thrilled with our application pool, which speaks volumes about how far the program has come,” said Dennehy, who enters his seventh season as head coach after guiding Merrimack to a Division I school record 25 wins, while reaching the Hockey East Championship for the first time ever and the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988. “Curtis knocked our socks off with his passion, organization, and preparedness.  His style of gritty, no nonsense, and hard work is emblematic of our entire organization.  We are excited he is joining the Merrimack Hockey family!”

Carr was named Interim Head Coach at Youngstown on February 16, 2010 but had the interim tag removed on April 1, 2010 with just two games remaining in the Phantoms’ inaugural season at the Tier I USHL level.

“I’m extremely excited to join Merrimack College and be a part of the hockey staff,” said Carr. “I’m excited to learn from Coach Dennehy and Coach Stewart and to build off the program’s success.  When I came to the campus on my interview, I fell in love with the atmosphere and location and I loved the small feel. Coach Dennehy is an outstanding coach and is well-respected, and I know I can learn a lot here. It’s a great opportunity.”

Prior to moving to Youngstown, Carr spent three seasons as the Assistant Coach and Director of Player Personnel for the NAHL’s Mahoning Valley Phantoms, during which the team posted a 142-61-11 record. Mahoning won a regular season title, two North Division titles, qualified for the National Tournament in all three seasons, and finished as the National Champion runner-up twice.

Under Carr’s tutelage, 60 players from Youngstown and Mahoning have secured NCAA scholarships.

A native of Georgetown, Ontario, Carr spent seven seasons as a player and coach for Kent State University and was a three-time ACHA All-American. Upon graduation in 2003, he was hired as an assistant coach for 2003-04 before being promoted to head coach, where he was an ACHA Coach of the Year finalist after leading the Golden Flashes to the ACHA National Tournament. In his first season at Kent State, Carr inherited a 9-30 team and produced a 21-18 record.

Carr is also actively involved with USA Hockey’s Select and Developmental camps and serves as a presenter for the USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with a teacher certification and a Master’s in Sports Administration and Recreation Management from Kent State.