SCHENECTADY, NY-- Union College men's ice hockey head coach Rick Bennett has announced the hiring of John Ronan as an assistant coach. The announcement was made official on Tuesday.

 "I'm happy to announce John Ronan as our new assistant hockey coach," Bennett stated.  "It's a win-win to have John come back to a program with which he is very familiar. During his time as a volunteer assistant, he helped improve many areas of our team. 

"John had a tremendous career at Maine and he has gained valuable experience the past two seasons at Youngstown and Mercyhurst.  Our coaching staff is excited to welcome John, his wife Robin and their daughter Cameron to the Union Hockey family."
 
Ronan, who served as a volunteer assistant coach during Union's 2014 National Championship season, rejoins the Dutchmen's coaching staff after spending one year as the assistant coach at Mercyhurst University and a one-year stint as an assistant coach with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL).

 "I would like to thank Rick Bennett, Jason Tapp and Jim McLaughlin for this incredible opportunity," Ronan said. "Union College is a very special place to me, and my family and I are looking forward to returning to the Capital Region." 
 
In his one-year stint at Mercyhurst, Ronan helped lead the Lakers to an overall record of 17-15-4 and a fourth-place finish in Atlantic Hockey. He worked primarily with the forwards and power play, helping produce the league's fourth-highest scoring offense (3.00 goals per game) and the third most efficient power play (18.5%).

Prior to his tenure with the Lakers, Ronan was as an assistant coach with Phantoms, winning the 2015 Anderson Cup Championship and helping develop the league's top scoring forward lines and fourth-best power play unit. Off the ice, Ronan handled player scouting, recruiting, drafting, travel planning, and community involvement among other duties.

During the 2013-14 season, Ronan was a volunteer assistant coach with the Dutchmen, helping the program to a Whitelaw Cup, a Cleary Cup and the program's first ever national title. While at Union, his primary responsibilities were the power play and forward lines, which finished second in the country in scoring offense. While at Union, Ronan was also a coach and an evaluator for the National Select Team at the USA Hockey Atlantic District Festival in Hackensack, N.J.

The South Boston, Mass. native played collegiately at the University of Maine from 2001-2005, making four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, playing in two national championship games (2002, 2004) and winning the 2004 Hockey East Championship. Ronan captained the Black Bears as a senior, also earning the Stein Award for Leadership. He earned his BA in University Studies with a focus in communications from the University of Maine in 2013.

Following his collegiate career, Ronan went on to play professionally for eight seasons with stints in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), the Central Hockey League (CHL), the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), the International Hockey League (IHL) and a one-year stay with the Geleen Smoke Eaters in Geleen, Netherlands.