Patrick Goes From BGSU To Wisconsin

Wisconsin has hired Kevin Patrick as an assistant coach. Patrick will assume his duties beginning Aug. 23. Patrick leaves Bowling Green and replaces Troy Ward on the Badger staff under Mike Eaves.

“It is a great opportunity to work with the University of Wisconsin hockey program and its history and tradition,” said Patrick. “I am very excited for the opportunity to be a part of Coach Eaves’ staff. I formerly worked with Coach Osiecki so being reunited with him is something I am also very excited about. I enjoyed our first working relationship and look forward to doing that again.”

Patrick joins the Badgers from Bowling Green, where he has served as an assistant coach since 2002. While with the Falcons, he oversaw the team’s defense, evaluated game tapes, monitored the team’s academic progress, scouted and recruited potential student-athletes throughout North America and worked with alumni and the community.

Prior to his time with the Falcons, Patrick spent four seasons at Union as an assistant coach. He began his time at Union working with the team’s forwards and defensemen, while coordinating the team’s strength and conditioning program and ordering the team’s equipment. Over his final three years, he became the team’s recruiting coordinator and watched the team go from three wins during his first season to 13 in his last season.

Patrick is familiar with part of the UW coaching staff, having served the 1997-98 season as assistant head coach and assistant general manager under current UW assistant coach Mark Osiecki with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL.

Patrick graduated from Notre Dame in 1992 with a bachelor’s of science degree in pre-professional studies. He was a four-year defenseman for the Fighting Irish hockey team, captaining the program during his final two seasons. He also played lacrosse for two seasons, helping Notre Dame qualify for the 1990 NCAA Division I Lacrosse Tournament. He resumed his education and earned a master’s degree in sport management from Massachusetts in 1998.

Following his graduation from Notre Dame, Patrick played one season of professional hockey, suiting up for the New Haven Senators of the AHL, the St. Thomas Wildcats of the CoHL and the Green Bay Ice of the AHA. He was selected to the 1993 American Hockey Association All-Star Team.

Currently on the Board of Governors for the American Hockey Coaches Association, Patrick has spent the past two years coaching at the USA Select 17 Festivals and also coached at the 2002 USA Select 16 Festival.

“Because of his experience, Kevin will be able to hit the ground running,” said Eaves. “He knows the recruiting world. Within three years, his teams have made notable improvements wherever he has been. He is a good match to Coach Osiecki and myself and will be a great addition to our coaching staff.”