As head coach Bruce Marshall begins his platinum anniversary season as the leader of the University of Connecticut Men’s Ice Hockey program, it is clear to see how he has made the strides needed for the Huskies to prove their competitive worth at the highest collegiate level. Marshall’s tenure as head coach (1988 – present) has marked the winningest period in Husky hockey history with 272 total wins and 52 ties.

Since becoming a Division-I program in 1998, Marshall led his squads to a MAAC Championship game, a pair of semifinals and a trio of quarterfinals in the post-season conference tournament. Most recently, his teams have made appearances in back-to-back Atlantic Hockey quarterfinal and semifinal contests. Last season, the Huskies finished at 15-11-2 marking their best season in the AHA with a final regular season ranking at No.4 while also earning the third seed for the conference tournament and hosting Mercyhurst in the quarterfinal match-up.

Prior to the Huskies D-I status, Marshall’s teams produced eight ECAC East tournament berths, four ECAC semifinals and one ECAC championship appearance.

In the 28 seasons prior to Marshall’s current span as head coach, UConn posted only three seasons with 15 or more wins with 16 wins in 1985-86, being the single season best. In Marshall’s 19 seasons, UConn has averaged 14.32 wins per season and has seen 16 season with 10 or more wins, nine seasons of 15 or more wins and two seasons with 20 or more wins.

During Marshall’s tenure as head coach of UConn’s ice hockey program, the Huskies have produced seven All-Americans, 14 all-conference members, an Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team selection and a MAAC Defensive Rookie of the Year (since the MAAC formed in 1998-99). In addition, their first ever conference Player of the Year came in the 2003-04 season as Tim Olsen received the Atlantic Hockey honor.

According to the 2007 NCAA record book, Marshall is the 25th ranked active D-I coach with is .509 win percentage and ranks 13th with his 272 victories. Marshall coached his 500th-career game on Jan. 22, 2005 at Yale and won his 250th game at UConn on December 8, 2005 as the Huskies defeated Sacred Heart on the Pioneers’ home ice. He hit the 200 career win mark during the 2000-2001 season when the Huskies defeated American International, 5-2, on Feb. 23, becoming the first hockey coach in UConn history to reach the 200 mark. Marshall became only the second hockey coach in UConn history to reach the 100 win plateau (John Chapman who coached Connecticut from 1960-81 compiled a 196-221-7 record).

In UConn’s second season as a Division I program in 2000, and as a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Marshall and the Huskies earned their first-ever conference championship in a 6-1 victory over Iona in the 2000 Easton/MAAC Championship game. After posting a 20-10-4 record in the 1998-99 season, the second 20-plus season in the program’s history, the 1999-2000 season added a 19-16-1 record, including winning the MAAC title.

For his accomplishments as UConn’s hockey coach, Marshall has been recognized by his peers in earning several honors. He won the Edward Jeremiah College Division National Coach of the Year Award and was named the ECAC Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the 1991-92 season. In February of 1993, Marshall was named to the East squad coaching staff for the 1993 Shrine East-West College Hockey Classic. The staff consisted of one coach from Division I, II and III schools. It was the first honor of its kind to be bestowed upon a Connecticut hockey coach.

A 1985 Connecticut graduate, Marshall became only the third head coach in UConn ice hockey history when he took over prior to the 1988-89 season, replacing seven-year coach Ben Kirtland. Prior to Kirtland, John Chapman served as Connecticut head coach for 21 years.
Marshall was a four-year letterwinner in the UConn ice hockey program. He played in 94 career games, and as a senior, Marshall was co-captain of the 1984-85 squad that finished with a 14-10 record and became the first Connecticut ice hockey team to make the ECAC playoffs. He received his bachelor of science degree in physical education from Connecticut in May of 1985.
After graduation, Marshall served as assistant ice hockey coach at his alma mater for one season. He later directed the varsity hockey program at Worcester (Mass.) Academy for two years while employed in private industry.

Marshall’s vision and hockey expertise make him instrumental in helping with operations of the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum. Marshall also serves as a staff member for numerous clinics and camps in the area, and as the Director of Connecticut Hockey Experience. Marshall coached the USA Hockey Festival in St. Cloud, Minn for the past six summers. The Select Teams are part of the USA Hockey Olympic Development program. Also in St. Cloud, Marshall coached the USA Hockey Select 17’s to a gold medal at the Festival in the summer of 2000.

Marshall recently completed his third year as Vice President of the American Hockey Coaches Association. He has also served on its Board of Directors for the past seven years.

Marshall, a native of West Boylston, Mass., now resides in Storrs, Conn., with his wife Kathy and four children, Matthew (11), Mollie (9), Marisa (7) and MariKate (3).

Marisa, Mollie, MariKate and Matthew Marshall