Mark Dennehy

Mark Dennehy
Sport(s) Ice hockey
Biographical details
Born (1967-10-18) October 18, 1967
Dorchester, MA, USA
Alma mater Boston College
Playing career
1987–1991 Boston College
1991–1992 Ayr Raiders
Position(s) Defenceman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994–1999 Princeton (Assistant)
1999–2000 Fairfield
2000–2005 Massachusetts (Assistant)
2005–Present Merrimack
Head coaching record
Overall 159–250–60 (.403)
Tournaments 0–1
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
2010 Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award

Mark Dennehy is an American ice hockey head coach who has led the program at Merrimack since 2005.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3] 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[4] but Dennehy remains with the program (as of 2016).

College Head Coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Fairfield Stags (MAAC) (1999–2000)
1999–00 Fairfield 3–28–3 3–22–2 10th
Fairfield: 3–28–3 3–22–2
Merrimack Warriors (Hockey East) (2005–present)
2005–06 Merrimack 6–23–6 3–19–5 10th
2006–07 Merrimack 3–27–4 3–22–2 10th
2007–08 Merrimack 12–18–4 6–18–3 10th
2008–09 Merrimack 9–21–4 5–19–3 t-9th
2009–10 Merrimack 16–19–2 12–13–2 t-6th Hockey East Quarterfinals
2010–11 Merrimack 25–10–4 16–8–3 4th NCAA Northeast Regional Semifinals
2011–12 Merrimack 18–12–7 13–9–5 5th Hockey East Quarterfinals
2012–13 Merrimack 15–17–6 13–11–3 6th Hockey East Quarterfinals
2013–14 Merrimack 8–22–3 3–15–2 11th Hockey East Opening Round
2014–15 Merrimack 16–18–4 5–14–3 11th Hockey East Quarterfinals
2015–16 Merrimack 13–19–7 5–10–7 7th Hockey East Quarterfinals
2016–17 Merrimack 15–16–6 8–8–6 7th Hockey East Opening Round
Merrimack: 156–222–57 92–166–44
Total: 159–250–60

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. "Mark Dennehy". Merrimack Warriors. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
  2. "Career journey has given Dennehy recipe for success at Merrimack". USCHO.com. 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
  3. "Dennehy To Depart Fairfield For Post As UMass Ass't". College Hockey News. 2000-05-02. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
  4. "Merrimack Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Greg Cronin
Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award
2009–10 (With Dick Umile)
Succeeded by
Jerry York
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