Ken Hutchins, a 1987 graduate of Southern New Hampshire University, has been promoted to head men’s ice hockey coach at SNHU. The announcement was made today by athletic director Chip Polak.<\/p>\n
Hutchins succeeds Rene LeClerc, who announced his resignation earlier this week after heading up the program the past eight years.<\/p>\n
“Having worked with Ken for the past ten years I have seen his dedication to the success of the hockey program, and the development of every student-athlete on the team,” said Polak. “I am confident in his abilities to lead the program.”<\/p>\n
Hutchins, who brings with him nearly two decades of coaching experience, has spent the past 10 years as an assistant coach at SNHU and was named associate head coach prior to the 2006-07 season. He helped the Penmen to an appearance in the final NCAA Division II Championship Series in 1999 and has guided the Penmen to an appearance in the championship game of the ECAC Division II\/Northeast-10 Conference Tournament four of the last eight years. Hutchins began his coaching career at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where he served as an assistant coach for seven years (1990-97).<\/p>\n
“As a graduate of SNHU I am honored and excited to be offered the opportunity to take over as head coach,” said Hutchins. “Rene has established a level of excellence with the program, and I hope to continue his hard work, and do my best to take the program to the next level.”<\/p>\n
Hutchins also spent six years (1991-97) as the corporate marketing and sales manager for the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League. He was with the team during the 1991-92 season when the Red Wings claimed the Calder Cup under the guidance of head coach Barry Melrose.<\/p>\n
A native of Dracut, Mass., Hutchins was a four-year member of the hockey team at SNHU (then New Hampshire College) and helped the Penmen to a combined 57-45-4 record. He was a freshman on the 1983-84 team that posted an 18-9-1 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament. As a senior he led the Penmen to their first-ever appearance in the ECAC North\/South Tournament. He played in 79 games over his career and totaled 23 career points. He was a five-sport athlete at Dracut High School.<\/p>\n
Hutchins currently resides in Manchester, N.H. with his wife Donna and son Jack.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ken Hutchins, a 1987 graduate of Southern New Hampshire University, has been promoted to head men’s ice hockey coach at SNHU. The announcement was made today by athletic director Chip Polak. Hutchins succeeds Rene LeClerc, who announced his resignation earlier this week after heading up the program the past eight years. “Having worked with Ken […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":140328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n