Middlebury has announced the hiring of Brian Phinney as the assistant men’s coach.
He returns to Middlebury from the Salisbury School in Connecticut, where he was the director of financial aid and an assistant varsity coach in various sports for the past seven years.
A four-year player from Middlebury from 2001 to 2005, Phinney graduated with a degree in history. He was also a four-year member of the men’s lacrosse program.
“I am excited to have Brian join the coaching staff,” said Middlebury head coach Neil Sinclair in a statement. “His experience with and passion for Middlebury hockey and the community was obvious during our conversations. His role as an educator, working closely with student-athletes, and his commitment to excellence, both on and off the ice, offer further reinforcement that he is the right person to help us write the next chapter for Middlebury hockey.”
“I am thrilled about, and grateful for this opportunity,” added Phinney. “I have an enthusiasm for Middlebury hockey that was ignited when I was a young local fan watching the Alcindor brothers, Kent Hughes, Brent Truchon and all the other greats at The Duke. The support from the town, and all the great people within the community who make Middlebury Athletics such a unique experience is truly a great thing. Coach Sinclair has always been one of my mentors, so I am excited to work closely with him for the upcoming years.”
While on the ice, Phinney served as captain during his senior season and earned All-American laurels and Second-Team All-NESCAC accolades. He was a finalist for the Joe Concannon Award, given annually to New England’s best American-born Division II/III college hockey player and concluded his career with 76 points (28 goals, 48 assists) in 113 games.
On the lacrosse field, Phinney was a long-stick midfielder for the Panthers, who claimed the 2002 NCAA championship as well as four NESCAC titles during his four years.
Following graduation from Middlebury, Phinney played two seasons of professional hockey for Hammarby IF and one year for the Nybro Vikings in Sweden.
He earned his master’s degree in sport management in 2010 from the Isensberg School of Management at UMass.
