Dick Umile, a six-time Hockey East Coach of the Year, enters his 22nd season as the head coach of the UNH Wildcats. He passed both Jerry York and Jack Parker in becoming the first coach in league history to six coach of the year honors. After signing a long-term contract in 2008, Umile will conclude his coaching career at his alma mater.

During his time spent at UNH, Umile has molded UNH hockey into one of the top programs in all of Division I hockey, guiding the Wildcats to four Frozen Four appearances, 17 NCAA tournament appearances and 21 Hockey East championship tournament showings in his 22-year career in Durham.

In addition, Umile has posted 18 20-victory campaigns over the span of 21 seasons. Umile is now the winningest coach in the history of UNH hockey with 484 career victories. He surpassed legendary coach Charlie Holt on Feb. 16, 2005 in a 6-1 victory at Merrimack at Thom Lawler Arena in North Andover, Mass. Umile ranks sixth among active NCAA coaches with a .647 winning percentage and on the active victories list his 484 victories ranks sixth among NCAA coaches. He has been named Coach of the Year a total of 11 times in his career, including New England honors four times and Hockey East Coach of the Year six times.

Last year, the Wildcats had a successful campaign posting a 22-11-6 overall record and 17-6-4 in Hockey East. The season took off quickly with just two losses in the ‘Cats first 16 games. In Hockey East play, they won the regular-season series with five of nine league foes, highlighted by a season series sweep of rival Mane. New Hampshire continued its hot streak, without back-to-back losses until mid-February. Umile helped take a team to its 23rd straight trip to the Hockey East playoffs and home-ice advantage for a league best 15th straight season. New Hampshire was awarded the Charlie Holt Team Sportsmanship Award this season. The ‘Cats earned an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament for the 10th-straight season and hosted the Northeast Regional at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester as a fourth seed. They advanced to the regional final for the third straight season with a 3-1 victory over the top seeded Miami (Ohio) RedHawks.

In 2009-10 Umile guided the Wildcats, to their eighth regular-season championship including the third in the last four years. After going just 2-6-2 over its first 10 games, Umile’s Wildcats responded with a 10-1-2 mark over the next 13 games, including a 12-game unbeaten streak in Hockey East play. The Wildcats led the Hockey East standings for an eye-popping 16-straight weeks, taking over the league lead Nov. 23, 2009 and never relinquishing that position. UNH went unbeaten at home in Hockey East play for the first time since the 1999-00 season. Umile’s run in the regular season was capped by a dramatic 3-3 come-from-behind deadlock with Boston College that clinched the league’s crown in front of the home fans on Senior Day at the Whittemore Center. The ‘Cats earned an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament for the ninth straight season and captured a convincing 6-2 win over favored Cornell in the opening round, advancing to the regional final for the second straight season.

In 2008-09, Umile directed the Wildcats to a 20-13-5 mark as they captured their eighth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. After struggling through a 1-5-2 stretch in November, New Hampshire went 14-4-2 to close out the regular season and claimed third place in the league and home-ice in the Hockey East quarterfinals for a Hockey East-best 13th straight season. The crowning moment of the 2008-09 season was the Wildcats’ goal with 0.1 seconds remaining to tie and eventually win 6-5 in overtime in their NCAA Northeast Regional opening-round game against perennial power North Dakota in front of UNH faithful at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester.

In 2007-08, Umile led the Wildcats to a 25-10-3 record, including a program-record 19 Hockey East wins en route to a 19-5-3 record in league play, which earned UNH the regular season title for the second season in a row.  Umile captured his 400th career victory Oct. 19, 2007 against Boston University. Umile coached four All-Americans in Kevin Regan, Mike Radja, Matt Fornataro, and Brad Flaishans, which was the first time in school history that four players received that honor.

In 2006-07, Umile helped the ‘Cats to the team’s sixth Hockey East regular-season title and their sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance with a 26-11-2 overall record and an 18-7-2 mark in conference play.

In 2005-06 Umile coached UNH to a 20-13-7 record overall.  The ‘Cats finished third in Hockey East, and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fifth consecutive time.

In 2004-05, Umile guided the team to a 26-11-5 record and a second place finish in Hockey East with a 15-5-4 mark. The Wildcats played in the Hockey East championship game and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season.

In 2002-03, UNH earned its fourth trip to the Frozen Four with a 28-8-6 overall record and a 15-5-4 record in Hockey East. The Wildcats took home the Hockey East tournament title for the second straight season with a 1-0 overtime thriller vs. Boston University on  March 15, 2003 at the FleetCenter in Boston. UNH defeated St. Cloud State and Boston University in the NCAA Regionals in Worcester, Mass. to earn its second straight trip to the Frozen Four. In Buffalo, the Wildcats beat the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, the Cornell Big Red, and Umile guided UNH to its second appearance in the national championship game vs. the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Junior goaltender Mike Ayers, senior forwards Lanny Gare and Colin Hemingway were named All-Americans in 2002-03, which marked the first time in school history three Wildcats earned that honor in the same season.                              

In the 2001-02 season, the Wildcats posted 30 wins, which was the second highest total in the program’s history. The ‘Cats made their third appearance in the Frozen Four in a five year span. Umile was honored as both the Hockey East and New England Coach of the Year and led the Wildcats to the school’s first ever Hockey East tournament title at the FleetCenter in Boston, as well as the regular season title. UNH was also ranked No. 1 in the nation for six weeks in the regular season, including the final four weeks.

Umile has coached 10 Hobey Baker finalists and 28 All-Americans in his 21 years in Durham. His success at the collegiate level has helped several UNH alumni continue their careers in the National Hockey League including Derek Bekar, Eric Boguniecki, Ty Conklin, Darren Haydar, Jason Krog, Bryan Muir, Eric Nickulas, Mark Mowers, Daniel Winnik, Trevor Smith, Jamie Fritsch, James van Riemsdyk, Bobby Butler and Matt Campanale.

In 1999-00, Umile guided the Wildcats to their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and coached the senior class to a school record 107 wins.  The Wildcats registered a 23-9-6 record and finished second in Hockey East with a 13-5-6 record. One highlight for Umile and the Wildcats included a No. 1 national ranking for the first time in school history.

In 1998-99, the Wildcats posted a school best 31-7-3 overall record and earned UNH’s first outright Hockey East regular season championship with a league record of 18-3-3.

After reaching the Frozen Four in 1998, UNH and Umile took it a step further in 1999 and reached the national championship game by defeating national power Michigan State, 5-3, in the semifinals. In what many consider one of the best title games in NCAA history, UNH outplayed  Maine and held a commanding 48-38 shot advantage, but fell just short of the ultimate goal in overtime.

In addition to guiding the amazing run through the national tournament, Umile also played a major role in UNH’s first recipient of the prestigious Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Jason Krog, a four-year player under Umile, was awarded the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the nation’s top player during the off day of the Frozen Four.

In addition to Krog, who was also a Hobey Baker finalist in 1998, Umile has coached Hobey Baker finalists Mark Mowers (1998), Ty Conklin (2000, 2001), Darren Haydar (2002 - Hat Trick finalist) Steve Saviano (2004), Kevin Regan (2008) and Bobby Butler (2010).

For his efforts during the 1998-99 season, Umile earned the Spencer T. Penrose Memorial Trophy as the top Division I hockey coach and earned New England and Hockey East Coach of the Year awards.

During the 1997-98 season, Umile and the Wildcats advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time since 1982. UNH posted a 25-12-1 record overall and boasted an unprecedented two Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists.                 

Umile became the 12th coach in the history of New Hampshire hockey when he was promoted to the position on December 6, 1990.

Umile returned to his alma mater before the 1988-89 season as an assistant coach and was named associate head coach prior to the 1989-90 campaign.

An outstanding player at UNH, he captained the 1971-72 team that placed third at the ECAC playoffs and went 20-10. Umile enjoyed his finest seasons as a Wildcat his sophomore and junior seasons tallying a career-high 56 points. Umile was also honored with the Roger LeClerc Trophy during his sophomore year as the squad’s most valuable player. He recorded 60 goals and 84 assists for 144 points in just 87 career games.

After graduating from UNH in 1972, Umile began his coaching career in the Massachusetts public school system in Wakefield and Melrose. He served as the head hockey coach at Watertown (Mass.) High School for 10 seasons and scouted for the St. Louis Blues in New England for two years. Guiding Watertown to two Middlesex League titles, he was also named the Boston Globe Division I Coach of the Year in 1984. Umile debuted in the collegiate coaching ranks at Providence College, where he coached for two seasons under former Friar mentor Mike McShane (UNH ‘71).

Following his first season as the Wildcat head coach in 1991, Umile was honored with his first Bob Kullen Award as the Hockey East Coach of the Year. He was also the recipient of the Clark Hodder Award by the New England Hockey Writers Association as the New England Division I Coach of the Year. Also, he was selected the 1991 New England Division I Hockey Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston.

Most recently, Umile was inducted into the Italian American Hall of Fame in 2007 and was honored by the Boy Scouts of America with the “Good Scout” award for his work in the New Hampshrie Seacoast community. In addition, Umile was named to the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey in 2009.

Umile and Rose have three daughters: Katie; Courtney and husband Dave Cook, who are the parents of Cameron (7), Lily Rose (8) and Tyler (5); Kristin and husband Jim Haggerty, who are the parents of grandsons Jack (11), Charlie (9), Jamie (7) and most recently Quinn Robert (4).

Scott Borek begins his 10th season with the Wildcat hockey program.  As an Associate Head Coach, Borek serves as the Wildcats’ Recruiting Coordinator.  While Borek assists Coach Umile in all aspects of Wildcat hockey, his primary responsibility lies in coaching the Cats’ offensive aspects of the game.  He works with the forwards as well as the team’s power play units.

Borek’s coaching career began as a result of an injury to his neck during his sophomore campaign at Dartmouth College.  While the injury ended a promising playing career, it served as motivation to begin a coaching career that has now lasted over 26 years.

At Dartmouth, Borek became the program’s second assistant, working alongside current Dartmouth Head Coach, Bob Gaudet.  He coached the junior varsity team while assisting with the varsity.  After two years at Dartmouth, Borek moved on to Providence College where he worked with UNH alum Mike McShane and current Wildcat Head Coach Dick Umile.

After helping to rebuild a Providence team back into a national contender, Borek moved across town to join former Big Green partner Bob Gaudet at Brown University.  Here Borek’s recruiting efforts were instrumental in moving Brown from a 1-25 record in his first season to a national tournament berth when his first recruiting class became seniors.

Borek left Brown to become the Head Coach at Colby College, where he was a finalist for the Eddie Jeremiah National Division III Coach of the Year Award in 1994.  From Waterville, Maine, Borek moved to Lake Superior State University, first as the Associate Head Coach for Coach Jeff Jackson. After one year Borek was named the Lakers’ Head Coach, a position he held for five years.  As a Laker, Borek was the CCHA Coach of the Year and a National Coach of the Year finalist (Spencer Penrose) in 1999-00.

Prior to joining Coach Umile on the Wildcats’ staff, Borek served one season as the Head Coach of the New England College Pilgrims in Henniker, NH.  At NEC Borek coached former Wildcat Travis Banga who would attain All-America honors as a Pilgrim.

Borek is a 1985 graduate of Dartmouth College, where he received his B.A. in English.  Scott is married to Cheryl (Stahl), a former women’s ice hockey and soccer player at Brown University.  They are the proud parents of four children -- Madeline (18), Gordon (17), Charley (15) and Owen (12)-- and currently reside in Durham.

Jim Tortorella enters his first season as associate head coach. Tortorella comes to New Hampshire after a 16-year stint as head coach at Colby College, where he led the Mules to an impressive 230-138-33 record in that span and leaves his mark as the program’s all-time leader in career wins.

A highly respected coach throughout the New England region, Tortorella brings a wealth of experience to Durham and will work primarily with the UNH defense.

In his time with the Colby hockey program, Tortorella led the Mules to 11 NESCAC playoff appearances, a trio of ECAC playoff appearances, an ECAC championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament. Tortorella’s best campaign came during the 2007-08 season, when he was selected as the NESCAC Coach of the Year and the New England Hockey Writers Coach of the Year after guiding the Mules to a first place finish and host for the league’s final four. He was also selected as the NESCAC Coach of the Year following the 2005-06 season.

In addition to his duties at Colby, Tortorella has long been a mentor to some of the best young players in the United States as he was named the assistant coach for both the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 USA World Junior Teams. Tortorella also serves as the director of player development for the USA Hockey affiliates of New England for six years. As a reflection of his versatility and esteem in the hockey community, Tortorella was elected president of the prestigious American Hockey Coaches Association in 2001, and in 2005 was selected as vice president of the AHCA’s Hockey’s Coaches Care Charitable foundation.

A former standout goalie at the University of Maine, Tortorella began his coaching career at Brunswick High School in Maine from 1984-87. He went on to coach at Cony High School in Augusta, Maine, where he earned State of Maine Coach of the Year honors two times over a five-year span. Prior to his time at Colby, Tortorella served as an assistant coach at UNH as a member of Umile’s staff. Tortorella currently holds the highest level of coaching education achievement within USA Hockey, the master certificate, and was a finalist for the 1995-96, 2005-06, and 2007-08 National Division III Coach of the Year honors.

Colin Shank enters his 10th season with the UNH men’s hockey program and his third season as the Asst. Athletic Director for Hockey Operations, after being elevated to his career position in the summer of 2009.

Shank’s primary responsibilities include the various day to day needs of the men’s hockey program.  Specifically he handles the teams travel, meals, equipment, and supervision of student managers.  Shank also assists the coaching staff in other areas such as practices, scheduling of ice times, budgeting, and coordination with visiting teams.  Shank was the 2005 winner of the Charles Holt Coaches’ Award for his significant contributions to the team both on and off the ice. He was one of just two non-players in UNH hockey history to be honored at the annual awards banquet. In addition, he was the 2008 President’s Award winner from the Friends of UNH Hockey.

Shank earned his graduate degree in Recreation Administration in May of 2007 and owns a B.S. degree in Kinesiology he received from UNH in 2005.

Shank also gained valuable experience in team services as a freshman with the Wildcat men’s basketball team, serving as one of three team managers. He primarily assisted with practices and home game management.

He is a 2001 graduate of Yarmouth High School, where he lettered in basketball and volleyball. Shank is a native of Yarmouth, Maine. Shank resides in Portsmouth, N.H.

Tim Churchard enters his ninth season in the capacity of working with the team in the area of Sports Psychology. Churchard works on a one-on-one basis with the athletes, helping them achieve maximum performance through psychological and psycho-physiological preparation.

Churchard spent seven seasons as the Wildcats’ volunteer assistant coach. Churchard’s primary responsibilities included on-ice practices and working with the Wildcat defensive corps.

Churchard played at UNH as a member of the varsity squad from 1963-65. He played under A. Barr “Whoop” Snively. Churchard was a multi-sport athlete as he also played running back for the football team under Chief Boston and Andy Mooradian. He earned his undergraduate degree from UNH in Liberal Arts in 1967 before embarking on a career in education and human resource management/consultation.

A native of Saugus, Mass., Churchard was a three-time league all-star and all-state selection as a senior at Saugus High School. He captained the hockey team and served as a co-captain of the football squad his senior year and was inducted into the Saugus Hall of Fame in 1990.

Churchard’s coaching career began at his hometown high school. He assisted the Saugus hockey program from 1970-73, he went on to assist Spaulding High School in Rochester and later served as head coach at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. He earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Salem State in 1972 and a GAGS in Education in 1984 from UNH.

Churchard began teaching at UNH in 1984, serving as an instructor in the education department. In addition to those duties, he has also been an instructor at UNH’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics since 1991.