Kevin McGonagle, previously the interim head coach of NESCAC women’s champion Bowdoin, was named the first head coach of the Robert Morris women’s hockey program on Friday.
“Kevin comes to Robert Morris having experience with successful programs,” said RMU athletic director Susan Hofacre. “His coaching credentials are solid and we are sure the success that he has had building programs in the past will continue here at Robert Morris.”
McGonagle brings a career record of 80-85-9 as head coach through seven seasons, only the most recent of which came with a women’s program. This past year, McGonagle’s Bowdoin squad earned a 20-5-1 record, a NESCAC championship, a Division III NCAA tournament berth, and the top scoring defense among D-III women.
McGonagle’s previous regular head coaching experience came at the men’s programs at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts from 2001-2003 and UMass-Boston from 1996-2000. He coached UMass-Boston to two back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 11 years, and he coached MCLA to its first winning season in 17 years.
Now McGonagle will build a program from scratch at Robert Morris, which begins CHA play in 2005-06.
“Having a chance to put together a program is really what drew me to Robert Morris,” McGonagle said. “My goal is to get word out to the hockey community about Robert Morris in my first year. I want to bring in quality student-athletes and meet with junior league and club team coaches throughout the nation to lay a strong foundation for the future of Colonial women’s ice hockey.”
