Arizona State has announced the hiring of Albie O’Connell as associate coach and recruiting coordinator for its men’s hockey team.
O’Connell starts his role with the Sun Devils on July 3.
O’Connell spent a combined eight years at Boston University, working his way up from assistant coach to assistant coach and finally head coach. While at BU, he was a part of seven NCAA Tournament appearances, seven Hockey East titles (four regular season, three championship), five Beanpot titles, three Frozen Fours, and two national championship games.
“Adding Albi to our staff is a huge piece for the Sun Devil hockey,” Arizona State head coach Greg Powers said in a statement. “In my opinion, Alby is the best recruiter that college hockey has seen over the past decade, and his track record in not only evaluating elite talent, but also in recruiting and retaining that talent speaks for itself. He is a man who could have gone and worked for many of places in both college and professional hockey, and I’m glad he chose to come help take our program to another level.
“In addition to his world-class recruiting ability, he is a tremendous coach and will bring fresh ideas and energy to our staff and program. We are excited to get started.”
As a skater at BU, O’Connell played in two Frozen Fours (1996, 1997) and helped the Terriers reach the national championship game and claim the Hockey East title as a sophomore. He and his fellow members of the Class of 1999 are one of only four BU classes to win four Beanpots.
In 149 career games, O’Connell scored 108 points (42 goals, 66 assists) during his four years with Jack Parker. As a senior, he led the team in scoring with 39 points (9 goals, 30 assists).
“ASU has it all,” O’Connell said. “I look forward to working with Greg and all of his staff to build a championship product on and off the ice.
“The High Level Athletic Department has great leadership and wants to support its programs and coaches to succeed. The men’s hockey program also has great leadership under Greg Powers. He started the program and built it into what it is today. The most impressive and compelling motivation for joining the staff was his vision for the program ASU has a campus that is second to none and arguably the best facilities in all of NCAA hockey that will allow elite athletes to continue to develop in front of an incredible fan base.The Mullett Arena is amazing.I am grateful and appreciative of Greg for giving my family the opportunity to join the ASU and affiliate hockey program she has “.
In the past year, O’Connell has worked with the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL as an amateur scout. Prior to Montreal, O’Connell spent five years as BU’s head coach, and prior to that, was the associate head coach for four seasons.
Before returning to BU, O’Connell spent a decade as a Division I assistant coach throughout the Northeast and established himself as one of the sport’s leading recruiters. After three years working at both Northeastern and Harvard, he spent one season each at Holy Cross and Merrimack after a two-year assignment at Niagara.
Watertown, Massachusetts’ coaching career began at Berkshire Prep School in 2002 before joining the collegiate coaching classes the following year at Colby College.
At Harvard, O’Connell worked primarily with Crimson defensemen and special teams. In his first season there, he managed the nation’s top athletics unit, which runs a 27.3% success rate, and helped the Crimson advance to the ECAC Championship game.
A fifth-round draft pick for the New York Islanders in 1994 O’Connell played professional hockey for the Pensacola Ice Flyers (ECHL) in 1999-2000, Basingstoke Bisons (British National League) in 2000-01, Atlantic City Passage Bullies (ECHL) in 2001-02 and Devils Cardiff (BNL) in 2001-02. In 127 pro games, O’Connell scored 54 goals and 78 assists for 132 points.
O’Connell graduated from Boston University in 1999 with a BA in History.