Wesleyan has named former Rensselaer and Bowling Green coach, Buddy Powers, to fill its vacant head coaching position. Powers replaces Dave Snyder, who retired at the end of this past season after 32 years at the helm.
“Buddy Powers is one of the most respected collegiate ice hockey coaches in the country, ” said Biddiscombe. “His experience and reputation will be instrumental in making the coaching transition at Wesleyan a smooth one and in continuing to attract quality student-athletes to our program.”
Wesleyan originally offered the position to a pair of Ivy League assistants — Brendan Whittet of Dartmouth and C.J. Marottolo of Yale — who each decided to turn down the job. Marottolo was recently promoted to associate head coach for the Bulldogs.
Powers, a 1975 graduate of Boston University, was an assistant for six years (1982-88) at Bowling Green under Jerry York, before getting his first head coaching position at RIT. He stayed for just one year before an opening arose at Rensselaer when Mike Addesa was fired in the aftermath of an incident between himself and player Graeme Townshend. Powers took over for the fired Addesa, and coached for five seasons (1989-94) before returning to Bowling Green as head coach. Powers was fired from Bowling Green following the 2002 season after eight years on the job.
Powers’ career record is 255-220-41, and includes a runner-up appearance at the Division III NCAAs in 1989. He also made the NCAA tournament in 1994 with RPI, and had three 20-win seasons in his five years with the Engineers.
At Bowling Green, Powers won 25 and 26 games, respectively, in his first two seasons, and was the 1994-95 CCHA Coach of the Year. But he never had another 20-win season, and didn’t make the NCAAs with the Falcons, going 9-25-6 in his last year.
Powers was a volunteer assistant for the Under-17 U.S. National team this past season. He will also serve as the golf coach at Wesleyan.
