Union College hockey coach Rick Bennett is being rewarded for leading the Dutchmen to the NCAA title.
Bennett signed a two-year contract extension through the 2021-22 season, the school announced Thursday.
He completed his third season as the Dutchmen’s head coach in style. Union won the ECAC Hockey regular-season title, the ECACH tournament championship, the NCAA tournament East Regional title and the school’s first NCAA championship. Bennett was named the American Hockey Coaches Association’s Spencer Penrose Award winner as national coach of the year.
Union won a school-record 32 games. The Dutchmen went 16-0-1 over their final 17 games.
Since taking over for Nate Leaman after the 2010-11 season, Bennett has a career record of 80-27-16, including a postseason mark of 19-2. Union has won two ECACH regular-season titles and three straight ECACH tournament championships, joining Cornell and Boston University as the only teams to accomplish that. Union has reached the NCAA tournament three straight times under Bennett, including two Frozen Four appearances.
“I could not be prouder of the accomplishments of this team both on and off the ice under Rick’s leadership along with his staff,” Union athletic director Jim McLaughlin said. “The success on the ice throughout his tenure has been remarkable and the student-athletes’ achievements in the classroom and within the community have been equally impressive. His leadership goes far beyond the rink and we are very fortunate to have him at Union leading this program.”
This is the third contract extension for Bennett. He received a four-year extension in 2012, and a one-year extension last year.
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