American Hockey Coaches Association

ST. LAWRENCE'S JOE MARSH IS DIVISION I COACH OF THE YEAR

For his efforts in leading his school to the ECAC regular season and tournament titles, as well as a berth in the NCAA "Frozen Four," St. Lawrence University head coach Joe Marsh has been chosen by his peers as the nation's University Division Coach of the Year for the 1999-2000 season. Marsh will receive the prestigious Spencer Penrose Award at the American Hockey Coaches (AHCA) Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 29, at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club in Naples, Florida.

The Spencer Penrose Award is named atter the former Colorado Springs benefactor whose generosity built the Broadmoor Hotel and Broadmoor World Arena, host site of the first ten NCAA Hockey Championships.

The Saints had an outstanding season from start to finish, compiling a 27-8-2 mark and winning the school's first outright ECAC regular season crown. The 27 wins were second only to the 29 wins of the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons. The ECAC Tournament title won at Lake Placid was the fourth for Marsh, tying the record held by Ned Harkness of Cornell and Jack Parker of Boston University. The Saints' season ended with a tough 4-2 loss to Boston College in the NCAA semifinals in Providence.

The voting for Coach of the Year is conducted under the auspices of the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). Only the 60 Division I head coaches may vote. This is the second time that Marsh has won this award, the first coming in 1989.

A native of Lynn, MA, Marsh is a 1977 graduate of the University of New Hampshire. In 15 seasons as head coach of the Saints, he has a record of 285-203-28. Next season, he could very well become just the 41st coach in 104 years of college hockey to win 300 games.

Runner-up for this award was Blaise MacDonald of Niagara University.

The Ten Finalists for the Spencer Penrose Award were Scott Borek, Lake Superior State; Don Brose, MN State Mankato; Shaun Hannah, Sacred Heart; Mike Kemp, Nebraska-Omaha; Blaise MacDonald, Niagara; Joe Marsh, St Lawrence; Jack Parker, Boston University; Jeff Sauer, Wisconsin; Dick Umile, New Hampshire; and Don Vaughan, Colgate.

Winners of the Spencer Penrose Award
(University Division Coach of the Year)

1951	Edward Jeremiah, Dartmouth	1976	John Maclnnes, Michigan Tech
1952	Cheddy Thompson, Colorado College	1977	Jerry York, Clarkson
1953	John Mariucci, Minnesota	1978	Jack Parker, Boston University
1954	Vic Heyliger, Michigan	1979	Charlie Holt, New Hampshire
1955	Ralph "Cooney" Weiland, Harvard	1980	Rick Comley, Northern Michigan
1956	William Hanison, Clarkson	1981	Bill O'Flaherty, Clarkson
1957	Jack Riley, Army	1982	Fernie Flaman, Northeastern
1958	Harry Cleverly, Boston University	1983	Bill Cleary, Harvard
1959	John "Snooks" Kelley, Boston College	1984	Mike Sertich, Minnesota-Duluth
1960	Jack Riley, Army	1985	Len Ceglarski, Boston College
1961	Murray Armstrong, Denver	1986	Ralph Backstrom, Denver
1962	Jack Kelley, Colby	1987	John "Gino" Gasparini, North Dakota
1963	Tony Frasca, Colorado College	1988	Frank Anzalone, Lake Superior
1964	Tom Eccleston, Providence	1989	Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence
1965	Jim Fullerton, Brown	1990	Terry Slater, Colgate
1966	Amo Bessone, Michigan State	1991	Rick Comley, Northern Michigan
1967	Edward Jeremiah, Dartmouth	1992	Ron Mason, Michigan State
1968	Ned Harkness, Cornell	1993	George Gwozdecky, Miami
1969	Charlie Holt, New Hampshire	1994	Don Lucia, Colorado College
1970	John Maclnnes, Michigan Tech	1995	Shawn Walsh, Maine
1971	Ralph "Cooney" Weiland, Harvard	1996	Bruce Crowder, MA-Lowell
1972	John "Snooks" Kelley, Boston College	1997	Dean Blais, North Dakota
1973	Len Ceglarski, Boston College	1998	Tim Taylor, Yale
1974	Charlie Holt, New Hampshire	1999	Richard Umile, New Hampshire
1975	Jack Parker, Boston University	2000	Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence