Sport(s) Ice hockey 1991–1992 Ayr Raiders 1994–1999 Princeton (Assistant) Alma mater Boston College | 1987–1991 Boston College Position(s) Defenceman 1999–2000 Fairfield | |
Born October 18, 1967 (age 49)
Dorchester, MA, USA ( 1967-10-18 ) Team Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey | ||
Merrimack hockey head coach mark dennehy postgame 1 8 2011
Mark Dennehy is an American ice hockey head coach who has led the program at Merrimack since 2005.
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Merrimack hockey head coach mark dennehy postgame interview 11 20
Career
Dennehy debuted for the Boston College Eagles in the fall of 1987, playing four years with the team that included 3 first place finishes, 3 NCAA tournament appearances and a Frozen Four in 1990. After graduating he played for the Ayr Raiders of the now-defunct British Hockey League in their final season of existence, finishing third in scoring for his team. Dennehy earned a tryout with the IHL's Fort Wayne Komets the following season but retired from playing soon thereafter.
After nearly a year away from the game Dennehy returned to his home state and was quickly enticed by his former BC assistant coach Joe Mallen to help out with team practices for Massachusetts. Dennehy became a full time coach soon thereafter, joining the staff at Princeton under Don Cahoon. After five years with the Tigers (which saw the program's first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 1998) Dennehy became the head coach for Fairfield. Dennehy took over the program after it posted one of the worst records in NCAA history the year before (1–31) and though it may not have come as a surprise, his team managed only 3 wins in the 1999–00 season. After the poor showing Dennehy resigned and rejoined Cahoon as an assistant, this time with the Massachusetts Minutemen. He remained as an assistant for an additional five seasons before starting his second stint as a head coach with Merrimack.
When Dennehy arrived in North Andover the Warriors had not seen a winning season since they had joined Hockey East in 1989. The first two seasons saw little success under his watch, including a school-worst 3-win campaign in his second year, but the College stuck with him and allowed Dennehy to slowly build the program. By year five the Warriors had risen to 16-wins, their best mark since 1994, and Dennehy was honored as the 2010 Bob Kullen Coach of the Year (the first Merrimack coach to receive the award). The following season saw the team post 25 wins, record their first winning season in over 20 years, reach the Hockey East tournament final and make only their second NCAA tournament appearance. After another winning year the following season Merrimack returned to its sub-.500 ways but Dennehy remains with the program (as of 2016).