Union College Athletics

Rick Bennett returns for his 11th season as Union College's men's hockey coach in 2021-22, having taken the program to new heights since taking the reigns in 2011. His .591 winning percentage ranked ninth-best among active Division I coaches entering last season.

Bennett's accomplishments in Schenectady are nothing short of amazing: one NCAA Div. I National Championship, two Frozen Four appearances, four NCAA Tournament berths, three Whitelaw Cups and three Cleary Cups. He has also coached nine players to 11 All-America honors: Mike Vecchione (2017), Spencer Foo (2017), Daniel Ciampini (2015), Shayne Gostisbehere (2013, 2014), Mat Bodie (2013, 2014), Daniel Carr (2014), Colin Stevens (2014), Jeremy Welsh (2012), and Troy Grosenick (2012).

He became the third Union hockey coach to reach 100 career victories with the Dutchmen’s 5-3 win against #3 Boston University on Oct. 10, 2015 and boasts the most coaching wins in program history. He holds a 27-11 postseason record and is 20-9 in the ECAC Hockey Tournament. He has has a .616 winning percentage in ECAC Hockey games (98-57-21). Bennett's record against nationally-ranked teams stands at 56-42-15 (.562). 

Under Bennett's guidance, the 2016-17 squad captured a share of its fourth Cleary Cup as ECAC Hockey regular season champions in the last seven seasons. The Dutchmen finished fifth in Division I in win percentage (.697), producing their fourth 20-win campaign under Bennett, en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance. Union's accomplishments earned Bennett ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career.

Additionally, senior forward Mike Vecchione (ECAC Hockey Player of the Year) and junior forward Spencer Foo were both selected as Hobey Baker Top-10 Finalists and CCM/AHCA First-Team All-Americans. Vecchione, who finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in program history, became Union's first Hobey Baker Hat Trick Finalist. 

In his third season behind the helm, Bennett led Union to a historic 2013-14 season, culminating in the school's first NCAA Division I Championship, as top-ranked Union defeated second-ranked Minnesota, 7-4, on April 12, 2014. The title finished off an incredible season that featured a 32-6-4 record, the most wins and highest winning percentage in the country, and the program's first No. 1 national ranking. The team spent 16 weeks ranked in the top 10 nationally, thanks to the NCAA's second-ranked scoring offense (3.81 gpg) and fourth-ranked scoring defense (2.14 gpg). 

Union closed the season with a 17-game unbeaten streak (16-0-1), which also included a school-record 12-straight wins. The Dutchmen did not lose a game in February, March or April, going a perfect 8-0 in the postseason, leading to an incredible 17-1-2 record against nationally ranked opponents.

For his efforts, Bennett was named recipient of the 2014 Spencer Penrose Award as National Coach of the Year by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). Bennett completed the hat trick of major awards by also receiving Coach of the Year honors from College Hockey News and U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO).

Previous Assistant Coach Experience:
- Union College (2005-11): Served six seasons under predecessor Nate Leaman, including four seasons as associate head coach.
- Providence College (2000-05): Served five seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater.

Professional Playing Experience:
- Third-round draft pick (54th overall) of the Minnesota North Stars in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.  His draft rights were later traded to the New York Rangers.
- Appeared in 15 games with the Rangers over three seasons (1989-92). Bennett's 10-year professional career also included stints with the Binghamton Rangers (AHL), Springfield Indians (AHL), Hershey Bears (AHL), Springfield Falcons (AHL), Albany River Rats (AHL), Cincinnati Cyclones (IHL), Jacksonville Lizard Kings (ECHL) and Pee Dee Pride (ECHL).

College Playing Experience:
- Four-year letterwinner (1986-90) and co-captain at Providence.
- Hobey Baker finalist as a senior and two-time winner of the Lou Lamoriello Trophy as team MVP.  
- Named an All-American during the 1988-89 season and All-Hockey East second team honoree in 1990.
- Finished with 134 points (50 goals, 84 assists) in 128 career games
- Graduated with a B.A. in general studies in 1990.
- Inducted into the Providence College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

Bennett is a member of the American Hockey Coaches Association and is in his third year on the Hobey Baker Selection Committee. He has also been involved with the United Way and the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer campaign.

A native of Springfield, Mass., Rick is married to Karyn, and has five children: Dan Mooney, Hayley, Brooke, Race and Lakyn.  The Bennetts reside in Clifton Park, N.Y.