Published: 5/29/2018 5:42:14 PM
UMass hockey coach Greg Carvel received a contract extension that will keep him in Amherst through the 2022-23 season, the university announced Tuesday.
His original deal ran through the 2020-21 season.
The Minutemen improved their win total by 12 last season, the largest improvement in program history and most in Division I this year.
“Greg and his staff have worked tirelessly to build our hockey program into a national contender,” UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford said in a release. “I am extremely proud of our progress since Greg arrived in 2016 and look forward to many years of competitive success for the Minutemen under his guidance.”
UMass won its first postseason series since 2007 and reached the Hockey East quarterfinals. The Minutemen won four games over ranked teams, including three wins over top-10 teams.
Associate head coach Ben Barr and assistant coach Jared DiMichiel are also receiving two-year contract extensions.
“My two years at UMass have proven to be a great life experience as I’ve witnessed team, program and individual growth,” Carvel said in the release. “I’m honored that Athletic Director Ryan Bamford and Chancellor Subbaswamy appreciate the work of the entire staff, which has developed the current momentum behind UMass hockey. The future of our hockey program is extremely bright and further motivates me to ‘wake the sleeping giant’ which is UMass hockey. I chose to come to UMass because of the great potential for success at the national level. Over the course of this contract extension I hope to fulfill this vision and bring great pride to everyone connected to UMass hockey.”
Carvel’s impact on the recruiting trail made immediate dividends. His highly-ranked freshman class led the nation in freshmen scoring. Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro were both named to the Hockey East all-rookie team. Makar also earned a spot on the Hockey East Third Team became the first-ever New England Hockey Writers Association George C. Carens Award (Rookie of the Year) winner.