Merrimack Hockey Head Coach Signs Extension

The following article was submitted by Merrimack College Athletics.

head hockey coach Mark Dennehy has inked a contract extension that will keep him as the Warriors' head coach through the 2018-19 season, as announced by President Dr. Christopher Hopey and Director of Athletics Glenn Hofmann.

“This contract extension underscores Merrimack’s commitment to Mark and his leadership.  Mark led his team to national prominence with a culture of integrity and principle.  He embodies the values of the College and serves as a role model for all students,“ said Christopher E. Hopey, President. “I am pleased to have Mark continue as head coach and remain an integral part of the Merrimack community.”

The extension of Dennehy’s contract continues a series of major investments made under President Hopey this year in the areas of academics and athletics and comes at a time when the College is expected to enroll the largest freshmen class in its history and is in the midst of several campus construction projects including the expansion of the Volpe Center, which will include a new sports medicine area, strength and conditioning training area and second ice rink.

In his sixth year as head coach at Merrimack, Dennehy guided the Warriors to their first-ever Hockey East Championship appearance, a Division I school record 25 wins and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1988.

Under Dennehy's guidance, the crowds returned to a renovated Lawler Arena, as Merrimack sold out 10 of its 16 home games, while posting a 13-2-1 home record, the best in Hockey East for the second straight season.

Off the ice, Dennehy's squad is a finalist for the highest male team GPA and had ten student-athletes named to the Hockey East All-Academic team after recording a 3.0 GPA or higher.

"Mark has done a tremendous job with the hockey program, and we're happy he will be leading our program for the foreseeable future," said Hofmann, who is in his third year at Merrimack. "His team has excelled on the ice and in the classroom, helped to build pride amongst Merrimack alumni and distinguished themselves on campus and in the community. These are just some of the reasons Coach Dennehy is highly sought after, and we are thrilled he will continue to be part of the Merrimack family."

“I am humbled and my family is truly grateful for the support and trust that Dr. Hopey and Glenn Hofmann have continued to show in me and the hockey program,” said Dennehy. “Merrimack is a unique and special place in which hockey is truly a part of the fabric of the College. The excitement and momentum that not only the hockey program has established, but just as importantly is present throughout the entire college community makes this a place that I want to stay at for the rest of my career.”

Dennehy was the 2009-10 Co-Hockey East Coach of the Year and was the 2010 and 2011 All-New England Coach of the Year.

In 2010-11, Merrimack defeated every Hockey East team for the second straight season and second time ever and was ranked nationally for the final 17 weeks of the season, reaching #4 nationally in February.

In Dennehy's six years at Merrimack, the Warriors have earned more Hockey East All-Academic Scholar Athletes of the Year than any other Hockey East school and have recorded a 3.0 GPA or better in three straight seasons.

Merrimack also saw its first two players drafted in the NHL Entry Draft under Dennehy as Kyle Bigos (Upland, CA) and Joe Cannata (Wakefield, MA) were selected in the 2009 draft, while Stephane Da Costa (Paris, France) signed a two-year contact with the Ottawa Senators following his second year with the Warriors.

Season tickets for the 2011-12 campaign are currently on sale by calling the ticket office at 978-837-5032 or by logging on to merrimackathletics.com.

TRANSACTIONS: MERRIMACK: Signed head hockey coach Mark Dennehy to a two-year extension through the 2018-19 season.