HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert College President Michael S. Brophy, Ph.D. has named Cole Klubek the first women’s ice hockey coach in Hawks’ program history. Klubek brings a vast athletics background to Hilbert, much of it coaching hockey at various levels.
“I am confident that Cole Klubek has the experience and vision to successfully build and lead our women’s ice hockey program to compete at the NCAA Division III level,” Brophy said. “Cole has shown throughout his life that he is dedicated to athletics and, more importantly, to the character-development that is vital for NCAA student-athletes.”
“I am honored to have the opportunity to develop and build the Hilbert Women’s Ice Hockey Program,” Klubek said. “It is very exciting to have the opportunity to return to home to WNY while leading the talented and deserving NCAA Division III student-athletes at Hilbert.”
Klubek, a Hamburg High School graduate, is currently the Hockey Director at Kendall Ice Arena in Miami Fla. As Hockey Director, he manages practice and game plans, new player recruitment, budgeting, USA Hockey compliance, and coaching. Prior to Miami, Klubek served as the head coach of the Laramie Outlaws (14U) in Laramie, Wyoming.
He spent his years after high school in the United States Air Force. As a result, Klubek moved around quite a bit, but one thing always remained constant, he was involved in athletics. It started in 2008 in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he began coaching youth in-line hockey before being deployed to Iraq in October 2010.
When he returned from Iraq, he would be stationed in Mississippi and he got involved with the Mississippi State University ice hockey program. The club program was about to fold, but Klubek jumped at the opportunity and helped recruit some more players and revitalized the program. After about two and a half years, Klubek was on the move again and headed to Germany. During his stint in Germany, Klubek served as the head coach of a professional women’s hockey team – Maddogs Mannheim.
Klubek enrolled at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in January 2018 and earned his Bachelor of Arts in English in May 2020. While at Lincoln, he served as a two-year captain as punter/kicker on the NCAA Division II football team.
