Paul Pearl, a 28-year Division I coaching veteran, has joined the Boston University staff as associate head coach.
Most recently the associate head coach at Harvard for four seasons, Pearl joined the Crimson after a 19-year stint as the head coach at his alma mater, Holy Cross.
Pearl replaces Albie O’Connell, who was promoted to head coach of the Terriers earlier this month.
The rest of last year’s BU staff will be returning, as assistant coach Len Quesnelle, director of hockey operations Brittany Miller and volunteer assistant coach Brian Eklund will all be back for O’Connell’s inaugural season at the helm.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Paul join our staff,” said O’Connell in a statement. “Paul is one of the best coaches and recruiters in all of college hockey. He has a great experience developing high level student-athletes both on and off the ice, and his passion, personality and experience will allow him to hit the ground running.”
“I am excited and humbled to become part of the Boston University men’s ice hockey program,” added Pearl. “Having the opportunity to working with Albie, Len and the rest of the staff here is truly exciting and I can’t wait to get started. BU’s tradition of excellence is something I have always admired.”
Pearl is the all-time winningest coach in Holy Cross history, accumulating 297 victories during his 19 years as head coach, and was behind the bench for nine of the 11 most successful seasons in program history. He led the Crusaders to both of their NCAA tournament appearances in 2004 and 2006 with the latter resulting in one of the biggest upsets in college hockey history, a 4-3 victory over Minnesota in the first round.
Including Quesnelle’s four-year stint as head coach at Princeton, O’Connell will now have 23 years of Division I head-coaching experience on his staff.
Pearl began his coaching career with a two-year stint at UConn followed by two years at Holy Cross as an assistant from 1994 to 196. He spent the 1996-97 campaign as an assistant at Brown before returning to Holy Cross to take over the program.
As a player, Pearl skated in 125 games for the Crusaders, compiling 77 points on 14 career goals and 63 assists.
Pearl graduated from Holy Cross in 1989 and earned his MBA from UConn in 1994.
