Rensselaer named John Burke, currently the top assistant for the men’s hockey team, as the acting head coach of the women’s hockey team. Burke will succeed Bill Cahill, who passed away from a heart attack Oct. 5.
“I am thrilled that John has accepted the position,” Rensselaer’s Athletic Director Ken Ralph said. “Bill established great momentum with our women’s hockey team and John has the energy, knowledge and work ethic to continue the program’s progress. He is more than ready for this job and I am very happy he will continue to serve our student-athletes in this new capacity.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to take over the women’s program,” said Burke. “Bill was a man I really enjoyed being around and learned a lot from, not just in hockey but in life. I look forward to building on the foundation and tradition he established. It remains our goal to make Rensselaer one of the top women’s hockey programs in the country.”
Burke entered his ninth season as Dan Fridgen’s top assistant this year. Prior to joining the Engineer staff he was an assistant at Hamilton and the head coach of Worcester Academy after he graduated from Bowling Green in 1991.
Rensselaer opens its season this weekend at Union after finishing last year in second place in the ECAC East. The Engineers attained their first 20-win season in 2002-03 and Cahill was named the ECAC East Coach of the Year. The Engineers return 11 of their 12 top scorers and both goaltenders.
