Robert Priestley, who coached Norwich for 28 seasons and was the school’s athletic director for 15 years, died Wednesday in Hyannis, Mass. He was 95.
Priestley led the Cadets to a 290-289-12 record from 1951 to 1979 and served as president of the American Hockey Coaches Association and the ECAC Hockey Association.
“Coach Priestley is one of the most respected men in college hockey,” Norwich coach Mike McShane said in a statement released by the school. “He is the foundation of the great Norwich hockey tradition.”
Priestley also coached baseball, track, golf and football at Norwich. He was part of the committee that selected the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.
