Bill Beaney
Encyclopedia
Bill Beaney, Jr. is a college men's ice hockey
coach. He has coached hockey teams in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, and has been the head coach at Middlebury College
since 1986. He led the Middlebury hockey team to eight NCAA Division III men's ice hockey championships between 1995 and 2006 and ranks 11th all-time among college men's ice hockey coaches with 543 wins.
, where he was coached by his father, Bill Beaney, Sr. Beaney became a star athlete at Lake Placid high school. He was recruited by more than 30 colleges and enrolled at the University of New Hampshire
("UNH"). He played four years of varsity hockey at UNH and was the captain of the 1973 team.
in Vermont. He led the Bellows hockey team to three titles.
In 1977, Beaney was hired as the head hockey coach at New England College
("NEC") in Henniker, New Hampshire
. When he took over, the NEC hockey program had been hurt by the academic dismissal of a handful of players. Beaney suffered with losing records in his first three years at NEC, but turned the program around in his fourth year as head coach. In his final four years at NEC (1981–1984), Beaney led the hockey team to a record of 60-37. He led the team to a berth in the NCAA tournament in 1984 with a record of 16-8-3. He was also named the New England Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1984.
In 1984, Beaney moved to the Berwick Academy
in South Berwick, Maine
, as the school's admissions director and hockey coach.
. After consecutive 7-16-1 seasons in 1987 and 1988, he turned the program around in 1990 with a 21-5 record. Middlebury has not had a losing record since 1989. Since 1995, Beaney has led Middlebury to 13 appearances in the NCAA tournament and 8 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey championships. His teams won NCAA championships five straight years between 1995 and 1999 and again for three straight years from 2004 to 2006.
Beaney has received the Edward Jeremiah Award four times (1990, 1995, 2004, and 2006). The award is presented each year by the American Hockey Coaches Association
to the Division III men's ice hockey Coach of the Year. Beaney and Mike McShane
are the only coaches to have received the award four times.
After his team won its third consecutive NCAA championship, Beaney predicted a fourth: "If I had a choice - if I were to step to one side - I would also pick Middlebury. Good people attract good people, and we have a lot of players who want to come here." When Middlebury won its record-setting fourth consecutive NCAA championship in 1998, The New York Times
wrote that the record was all the more remarkable given that it was accomplished by a small, academically oriented college with no athletic scholarships. The Times wrote:
When Middlebury won a fifth consecutive NCAA championship in 1999, the Boston Globe described the accomplishment as "padding a record of domination unrivaled in any level of college hockey." Beaney noted that the fifth championship was "the most special," because he had lost the entire six-player core that had been the foundation for his previous championship teams. In explaining how his young team had won the championship, Beaney offered what the Boston Globe called a bit of Green Mountain wisdom, "Like the sap that runs from the trees, anything is possible."
Beaney took a leave from his coaching duties for the 2002-2003 hockey season. Middlebury President John McCardell, Jr., announced that Beaney had been granted time off from his coaching duties and would serve as an associate in the Office of College Advancement. He won three consecutive NCAA championships (2004–2006) after returning from the hiatus.
Prior to the 2004 NCAA tournament, Beaney took his players on a trip to his home town of Lake Placid. His players "explored every nook and cranny" of the rink where the USA Hockey team had won the Olympic gold medal in 1980 and played a pickup game on the speedskating oval where Eric Heiden
won five gold medals. Despite having what Beaney called "the weakest ability level" of any of his championship teams, the team went on to win the 2004 NCAA championship. Beaney recalled, "It was the same as the 1980 U.S. team. They had an unbelievable belief in themselves. They knew they could count on each other. Our guys were sharing the same dreams the 1980 team did. It was our own little miracle."
Beaney is also the head coach of Middlebury's golf team. His Middlebury golf teams won New England Small College Athletic Conference
titles in 1999, 2002, 2007 and 2009 and advanced to the NCAA golf tournament
in 2008 and 2009.
for many years. He coached USA Hockey's Junior Olympic team from 1985 to 1997 and was the head coach of the U.S. Women's Junior National team from 1996 to 1997. He also served as the head coach of the East Team at the 1993 Olympic Festival, leading his team to the gold medal.
since 1987. As of 2006, the Beaney brothers had faced each other as coaches on 13 occasions, with Middlebury winning all 13 games. Jeff told a reporter, "People ask me all the time if it bothers me that my brother wins all the time. I tell them, 'If I can't win, I'm glad it's him.'"
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
coach. He has coached hockey teams in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, and has been the head coach at Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
since 1986. He led the Middlebury hockey team to eight NCAA Division III men's ice hockey championships between 1995 and 2006 and ranks 11th all-time among college men's ice hockey coaches with 543 wins.
Athlete
Beaney grew up playing hockey in the youth leagues of Lake Placid, New YorkLake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
, where he was coached by his father, Bill Beaney, Sr. Beaney became a star athlete at Lake Placid high school. He was recruited by more than 30 colleges and enrolled at the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
("UNH"). He played four years of varsity hockey at UNH and was the captain of the 1973 team.
Early years
After graduating from UNH in 1973, Beaney coached hockey at the Bellows Free AcademyBellows Free Academy, St. Albans
Bellows Free Academy is a high school, grades 9-12, in St. Albans, Vermont, USA. BFA-St. Albans is the largest secondary school in Franklin county, Vermont. There were approximately 1,200 students in attendance as of the 2005-2006 school year....
in Vermont. He led the Bellows hockey team to three titles.
In 1977, Beaney was hired as the head hockey coach at New England College
New England College
New England College is a private four-year college in Henniker, New Hampshire, enrolling a total of approximately 1800 undergraduate and graduate students.-History:The school was created in 1946 for students attending college on the G.I...
("NEC") in Henniker, New Hampshire
Henniker, New Hampshire
Henniker is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 4,836. Henniker is home to New England College, Ames State Forest and Craney Hill State Forest....
. When he took over, the NEC hockey program had been hurt by the academic dismissal of a handful of players. Beaney suffered with losing records in his first three years at NEC, but turned the program around in his fourth year as head coach. In his final four years at NEC (1981–1984), Beaney led the hockey team to a record of 60-37. He led the team to a berth in the NCAA tournament in 1984 with a record of 16-8-3. He was also named the New England Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1984.
In 1984, Beaney moved to the Berwick Academy
Berwick Academy
Berwick Academy is a highly selective preparatory school located in South Berwick, Maine. Founded in 1791, it is the oldest educational institution in Maine and one of the oldest private schools in North America. The school sits on a 72-acre, 11-building campus on a hill overlooking the Salmon...
in South Berwick, Maine
South Berwick, Maine
South Berwick is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,220 at the 2010 census. South Berwick is home to Berwick Academy, a private, co-educational university-preparatory day school founded in 1791...
, as the school's admissions director and hockey coach.
Middlebury College
In 1986, Beaney was hired as the head men's ice hockey coach at Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
. After consecutive 7-16-1 seasons in 1987 and 1988, he turned the program around in 1990 with a 21-5 record. Middlebury has not had a losing record since 1989. Since 1995, Beaney has led Middlebury to 13 appearances in the NCAA tournament and 8 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey championships. His teams won NCAA championships five straight years between 1995 and 1999 and again for three straight years from 2004 to 2006.
Beaney has received the Edward Jeremiah Award four times (1990, 1995, 2004, and 2006). The award is presented each year by the American Hockey Coaches Association
American Hockey Coaches Association
The American Hockey Coaches Association was formed in 1947 in Boston. The founding members coached college ice hockey but membership has grown to include coaches at every level of the sport from youth hockey to professional ice hockey, although the organization maintains a focus on the collegiate...
to the Division III men's ice hockey Coach of the Year. Beaney and Mike McShane
Mike McShane (ice hockey)
Mike McShane is a college men's ice hockey coach. He ranks ninth all-time among NCAA men's ice hockey coaches with 564 wins in 30 years as a head coach...
are the only coaches to have received the award four times.
After his team won its third consecutive NCAA championship, Beaney predicted a fourth: "If I had a choice - if I were to step to one side - I would also pick Middlebury. Good people attract good people, and we have a lot of players who want to come here." When Middlebury won its record-setting fourth consecutive NCAA championship in 1998, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote that the record was all the more remarkable given that it was accomplished by a small, academically oriented college with no athletic scholarships. The Times wrote:
"Without consulting Coach Bill Beaney, it is difficult to comprehend how a small college like Middlebury in Vermont can win an unprecedented four straight national championships in a sport as money-minded and competitive as hockey. The entrance requirements are stiff - average Scholastic Achievement Tests of 1,330 - and the annual cost of about $30,000 occasionally eased by a grant based on family need. There are no athletic scholarships."
When Middlebury won a fifth consecutive NCAA championship in 1999, the Boston Globe described the accomplishment as "padding a record of domination unrivaled in any level of college hockey." Beaney noted that the fifth championship was "the most special," because he had lost the entire six-player core that had been the foundation for his previous championship teams. In explaining how his young team had won the championship, Beaney offered what the Boston Globe called a bit of Green Mountain wisdom, "Like the sap that runs from the trees, anything is possible."
Beaney took a leave from his coaching duties for the 2002-2003 hockey season. Middlebury President John McCardell, Jr., announced that Beaney had been granted time off from his coaching duties and would serve as an associate in the Office of College Advancement. He won three consecutive NCAA championships (2004–2006) after returning from the hiatus.
Prior to the 2004 NCAA tournament, Beaney took his players on a trip to his home town of Lake Placid. His players "explored every nook and cranny" of the rink where the USA Hockey team had won the Olympic gold medal in 1980 and played a pickup game on the speedskating oval where Eric Heiden
Eric Heiden
Eric Arthur Heiden, M.D. is an American former long track speed skater and road cyclist who won all the men's speed skating races, and thus an unprecedented five individual gold medals, and set four Olympic records and one world record at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York,...
won five gold medals. Despite having what Beaney called "the weakest ability level" of any of his championship teams, the team went on to win the 2004 NCAA championship. Beaney recalled, "It was the same as the 1980 U.S. team. They had an unbelievable belief in themselves. They knew they could count on each other. Our guys were sharing the same dreams the 1980 team did. It was our own little miracle."
Beaney is also the head coach of Middlebury's golf team. His Middlebury golf teams won New England Small College Athletic Conference
New England Small College Athletic Conference
The New England Small College Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division III athletic conference, consisting of eleven highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities located in New England and New York...
titles in 1999, 2002, 2007 and 2009 and advanced to the NCAA golf tournament
NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships
The NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships, played in mid-May, is an annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, but there is also an award for the lowest scoring individual competitor.-Winners:-Team:...
in 2008 and 2009.
USA Hockey
Beaney has been involved in USA HockeyUSA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
for many years. He coached USA Hockey's Junior Olympic team from 1985 to 1997 and was the head coach of the U.S. Women's Junior National team from 1996 to 1997. He also served as the head coach of the East Team at the 1993 Olympic Festival, leading his team to the gold medal.
Coaching philosophy
Beaney has earned a reputation for his emphasis on team play. In an interview with the Boston Globe in 1998, Beaney described his philosophy, "Every player knows how to control the puck... Everyone plays aggressive two-way hockey. That's a major key. ... We work hard, but we take plenty of time off. Studies are first. The kids like it and we do everything as a team." A Vermont newspaper in 2005 published a feature story on Beaney's coaching philosophy which it dubbed "the gospel according to Bill Beaney." The elements of the Beaney gospel include such truisms as "don't take anything for granted," "they have to keep working hard," and "playing just one game at a time." And an emphasis on the team above the individual: "No one is bigger than the team. In order to succeed, you must work together and become a cohesive unit."Overall coaching record
Beaney achieved his 500th career coaching win in January 2008 with a 6-3 win against New England College. He was the 18th college hockey coach to reach the milestone. In 30 years as a head coach, Beaney has compiled a record of 543 wins, 208 losses, and 42 ties. At the end of the 2009-2010 hockey season, Beaney ranked eleventh all-time among college men's ice hockey coaches in career wins.Family
Beaney's younger brother, Jeff Beaney, played hockey for Beaney at New England College. Jeff has been the head hockey coach at University of Southern MaineUniversity of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
since 1987. As of 2006, the Beaney brothers had faced each other as coaches on 13 occasions, with Middlebury winning all 13 games. Jeff told a reporter, "People ask me all the time if it bothers me that my brother wins all the time. I tell them, 'If I can't win, I'm glad it's him.'"