Cavanaugh Takes Over at UConn

Longtime Boston College assistant/associate coach Mike Cavanaugh is now the head man at the University of Connecticut.

He replaces interim coach David Berard, who took over the Huskies last season after 25-year UConn head coach Bruce Marshall stepped down for personal reasons during the campaign.

"I would like to thank President Susan Herbst and Director of Athletics Warde Manuel for showing confidence in my abilities and giving me the opportunity to lead UConn into its era of Hockey East," said Cavanaugh at uconnhuskies.com.

In 18 years at BC, the last nine as associate head coach, Cavanaugh, 44, was part of four NCAA championships (2001, 2008, 2010, 2012). His tenure with the Eagles also produced 27 NHL players, 22 All-American selections, nine Hockey East tournament championships, seven Beanpot Tournament trophies, six Hockey East regular-season titles, and a Hobey Baker Award recipient in Mike Mottau (2000).

A North Andover, Mass. native and a 1990 graduate of Bowdoin College, where he captained the hockey team and also played football for the Polar Bears, Cavanaugh was an assistant to Jerry York at Bowling Green State University in 1992-93 and then spent two years at Dartmouth College before joining York in Chestnut Hill, Mass. in 1995. He helped the Eagles to 14 seasons of 20 or more wins, 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, 10 Frozen Four berths, and more than 400 victories in all.

"Mike has enjoyed an accomplished career at Boston College and has a great knowledge of what it takes to win on a national level," remarked Manuel. "He also brings to UConn an understanding and appreciation for what it means to be a complete student-athlete."

This year, Cavanaugh was named the winner of the 2013 Terry Flanagan Award by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). The award is presented annually to honor an assistant coach's career body of work in the college ranks.

UConn will play one final season in the Atlantic Hockey league before shifting to Hockey East in 2014-15.