Providence introduced Tim [nl]Army as the school’s men’s ice hockey coach in a press conference on Friday morning.
Army succeeds Paul Pooley, who announced his resignation earlier this month to take the assistant coach job at Notre Dame.
Army has a long-time history and association with Providence hockey. After playing three seasons with the Friars from 1982-85, he served as an assistant coach under Mike McShane from 1989 through 1993.
“We are excited to have Tim Army leading our men’s hockey program,” Associate Vice President for Athletics Bob Driscoll said. “He has experienced success as an athlete and as a coach at all levels. Tim brings extensive knowledge and strong teaching skills to the position. In addition, he is a part of the tremendous tradition of Friar hockey and he will take great pride in moving the program forward.”
“I’m honored and thrilled to return home to Providence College,” Army said. “I look forward to the challenge and the responsibility of directing the great traditions of our hockey program.”
In returning to his alma mater, Army does so a more seasoned coach. He spent nine seasons as an NHL assistant with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Washington Capitals. After five seasons behind the Washington bench, Army was named head coach of Washington’s AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, compiling a 99-89-20 record over the past three seasons.
As a player at Providence, Army was part of the school’s transition from the ECAC to Hockey East in 1984. He was a member of the 1984-85 Friars squad that captured the inaugural Hockey East tournament championship and made it to the NCAA Championship Game, and was a Hockey East all-league selection as well as an All-American during that campaign.
Army’s task will be a challenging one, trying to bring a once-strong program back to NCAA contention. The Friars have qualified for the NCAA tournament eight times, but only twice in the last 14 seasons. This past season, Providence finished seventh in Hockey East, matching the school’s worst finish in league history, while going winless in Hockey East for a 16-game stretch spanning three-and-a-half months.
