After nine seasons at Wentworth, including the last eight as head coach, R.J. Tolan has announced his resignation to accept the same position at Endicott College.
Endicott will be elevating its club program to varsity status for the 2015-16 season and will compete in the ECAC Northeast conference.
“Coach Tolan is a phenomenal hockey coach,” said Endicott athletic director Dr. Brian Wylie in a statement. “His tireless work ethic, communication skills and tremendous attributes as a coach became apparent throughout the interview process and made him a perfect leader for the men’s ice hockey program. As someone that understands the true meaning of what a ‘student-athlete’ is, I am confident that Coach Tolan will command the most from his players to represent Endicott well as the program transitions to a full-fledged NCAA Division III program.”
“I’d like to thank Wentworth for the opportunity to have served as its head hockey coach,” said Tolan in a statement. “Quite simply, the past nine years have been the best experience of my life. I’ve coached and worked alongside players, coaches, staff and faculty who have become lifelong friends. During my time here, I met and married my wife and this past February, we welcomed our daughter into the world. I can’t put into words the impact that the Wentworth hockey program has had on our lives and I hope I was able to give back some of the joy I received from coaching here every day.”
Wentworth is coming off a 12-13-2 record in 2013-14, which included a second-place finish in the ECAC Northeast and its fourth straight trip to the conference championship game where the Leopards were edged by Nichols, 3-2, in overtime.
“R.J. has been a very loyal and committed employee of Wentworth throughout his tenure,” added Wentworth director of athletics Angel Ayres. “He will not only be missed by our current student-athletes, but by our entire department. He has left his mark at Wentworth as both an outstanding coach and person. I wish him continued success in his new position.”
The winningest coach in program history, Tolan compiled a 128-74-16 record in eight seasons, which included two (2012, 2013) ECAC Northeast championships and four other trips (2007, 2009, 2011, 2014) to the conference title game. A three-time (2007, 2012, 2014) ECAC Northeast coach of the year, Tolan arrived on the Wentworth as an assistant coach during the 2005-06 season and became the fifth head coach in program history in May 2006.
