Butler Toronadoes

At the recently held American Hockey Coaches Association meeting in Naples Florida, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) ice hockey head coach Sam Kelly was named the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) Division II Coach of the Year for the 03-04 season. The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) is the national coaches organization, which best represents, and promotes the development of the sport of ice hockey in America. It’s primary membership is from the Collegiate programs in the country, however membership is open to all those who have concern and interest in the success of the game. The AHCA recognizes at the yearly conference contributions to the sport in a number of awards and recognizes the Coach of the Year at the NCAA I and III and ACHA I and II collegiate levels. Sam Kelly from IUP is the ACHA DII award winner. Coach Kelly is the Head Coach/General Manager of the Indiana University of Pa. ACHA national program. The IUP program currently has teams competing at the ACHA DII and DIII level. His responsibility includes the overall operation and instruction of both teams. In 15 years under Kelly the DII team has an overall record of 237-160-33 while Kelly’s DIII team boasts a 5-year record of 82-31-8 for a combined record at IUP of 319-191-41. This record includes 14 league playoffs, 9 regular season championships, 10 playoff championship appearances, 3 playoff championships, and 6 ACHA National Championship appearances. In 03-04 both the DII and DIII team maintained a number one ranking in their ACHA respective regions throughout the entire season. The DII team finished with a record of 25-10-5, a regular season UHL championship, and a 9th place finish in the DII National Championships held in Washington D.C. The DIII team finished with a 22-2-2 record, a CHE regular season and playoff championship and a 4th place finish in the DIII National Championship held in Phoenix Arizona. 03-04 ended as the most successful season in IUP Hockey history.