Former Maine, Mercyhurst women’s assistant O’Grady chosen new head coach at Nichols

Nichols has named Mike O’Grady head coach of the women’s hockey program.

O’Grady comes to Nichols after spending the 2016-17 season as an assistant women’s coach at Maine.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to join Nichols College,” said O’Grady in a statement. “I would like to thank [Nichols director of athletics] Chris Colvin and the Nichols administration for having faith in me to lead the women’s hockey program. I will meet with the current players soon to lay out the plan for the summer and will continue to build our recruiting class of 2017.”

Prior to his arrival at Maine, O’Grady spent two seasons at Mercyhurst, where he served as the assistant coach with the women’s team.

“I am excited to welcome Mike into the Nichols College family,” added Colvin. “Mike brings experience from two Division I women’s hockey programs and a passion to lead the Nichols program to success. His philosophy of coaching, recruiting, and creating a family culture mirrors that of Nichols College and I am excited to see the growth that the program will undertake under Mike’s leadership.”

From 2011 to 2015, O’Grady worked for the American Hockey Coaches Association as an intern for national events.

O’Grady cut his teeth in coaching at his alma mater, John Carroll, where he was an assistant hockey coach for three seasons (2011-14) for its ACHA program.