PITTSBURGH, PA. – June 7th, 2016 — Chatham University announced that two-year SUNY Potsdam assistant Michael Callan has been hired as the new Head Men’s Ice Hockey Coach. Chatham will be the first Division III men’s ice hockey team from Pittsburgh, and they will begin play during the 2017-18 academic year.
“We are going to be able to gain momentum quickly, and we will be competitive on the ice from the start. Our men’s hockey players will be high achievers in the classroom, and leaders in our community,” said Callan when he arrived on campus on Monday. “This is an incredibly attractive university in a friendly city, and I am very excited about introducing NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey to not only the city of Pittsburgh, but also the USA Hockey Mid-Am District.”
Callan has served as the Bears’ assistant coach for the past two seasons (2014-15, 2015-16). During his time at Potsdam, Callan was responsible for overseeing the defensemen, penalty kill, individual player skill development, strength and conditioning, and served as the primary recruiter on staff. Callan would help lead Potsdam to consecutive back to back winning seasons, and two trips to the SUNYAC playoffs. In those two seasons, Potsdam would earn a SUNYAC Goaltender of the year, a third team All-SUNYAC forward, and two SUNY Potsdam Athletic Department awards for community service.
Prior to his time at SUNY Potsdam, Callan served as a full-time assistant with Ohio University’s ACHA Division 1 team. At Ohio U., Callan primarily worked with the forwards and goaltenders. Callan would help lead Ohio University to a CSCHL Playoff Championship in 2013, as well as the ACHA Division 1 Semi-Finals. Callan was an assistant to Head Coach Jon Sheridan who received CSCHL Coach of the Year honors in 2013-14. Callan was the primary recruiter on staff, and would land CSCHL Rookie of the Year and ACHA Division 1 Rookie of the Year finalist Pat Spellacy. During his time at Ohio University, Callan would earn his Master’s Degree in Recreation and Sport Studies with a concentration in Coaching Education, as well as a Master’s of Sports’ Administration from the Ohio University College of Business.
Before arriving at Ohio University, Callan worked with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League of the Canadian Hockey League from January 2012 until July 2012. Callan served as the U.S. Director of Scouting for the League’s Central Scouting and Recruitment Department. From November 2010 until January 2012, Callan would serve as an Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator with the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs. Callan would coach or recruit over forty future NCAA Division 1 players. The Monarchs would win the EJHL Championship in 2011 and 2012.
Callan’s coaching career would actually begin during his undergraduate years at Clarkson University where he would earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship with a minor in Psychology. Callan served as the Video Coordinator and would then be promoted to Director of Hockey Operations during his time at Clarkson. Callan was tasked with overseeing the operation of video during games, assisted with technical duties, travel arrangements, and assisted in practices.
As a native of Sylvania, Ohio, Callan has been active in volunteering for the evaluation of player selection efforts for the USA Hockey Mid-Am District from 2010-2015. This summer, Callan will work as a coach at the USA Hockey Boys Select 16 Player Development Camp in Amherst, New York.
Callan brings to Chatham a passion for the evolution of student-athletes into leaders in the classroom, on the ice, and in the community in a setting that promotes holistic and diverse development initiatives through multiple pedagogical means. “I am a person of high integrity, dedication, and I am a strong communicator who has spent time with each specific position.”
Callan would be remiss not to thank Athletic Director Leonard Trevino, and Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students Zauyah Waite for selecting him to lead this program from its inception. Callan would also like to thank Chris Stern, Esq., and Dr. Michael Malloy for updating him on the current status of youth hockey and Chatham University in the Pittsburgh area. “I consider myself privileged to have worked with fantastic mentors in my career who have prepared me for this task including Chris Bernard, Jon Sheridan, Dan Morris, Jim Kahler, Dr. David Carr, Pierre Leduc, Sean Tremblay, George Roll, Greg Drechsel, J.F. Houle, and Chris Rogles.”
As mentioned above, the Chatham Men’s Ice Hockey team will take the ice beginning in the fall of 2017, and is now the fourth NCAA Division III men’s ice hockey program in the state of Pennsylvania. The Cougars will practice and play their home games at the Alpha Ice Complex located in Harmarville. The majority of the teams that the Cougars will compete against are located in upstate New York, New England, and the Great Lakes Region.Su
