PURCHASE, N.Y. — Manhattanville College Director of athletics and recreation, Julene Caulfield, announced that David Turco has been hired as the fourth head coach in Valiant men’s ice hockey program history. Previously, Turco served in the same position for Manhattanville women’s ice hockey since 2011-12 and earned nine conference tournament berths over his nine seasons on the bench and amassed a program-record 120 victories.
“I am incredibly grateful for the confidence Julene Caulfield and Manhattanville College have shown in me to lead our men’s program into the future,” said Turco. “I have admired what has been built here with both programs since I arrived in 2009. I am excited and looking forward to the opportunity to develop my vision for the men’s program and continue to build upon the culture of success and excellence that already exists here.
My experience with the women’s program has been a pleasure and has allowed me to develop immensely as a leader and coach. I am taking with me great memories from behind their bench and will undoubtedly be the program’s biggest supporter and fan moving forward.”
Turco saved his best for last with the women. In 2019-20, he guided the Valiants to a 17-8-3 overall record, including an outstanding 13-2-1 mark in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) play. Manhattanville secured the South Division regular-season title and the second overall seed in the UCHC Tournament. The squad would finish the season as the conference’s runner-up, falling just short in a highly contested championship battle with Elmira College, who was ranked No. 5 nationally at the time in the USCHO Division III national rankings.
For his efforts, Turco was named the 2019-20 UCHC Coach of the Year and was selected as a Division III CCM/AHCA Women’s Coach of the Year finalist. Additionally, five players earned UCHC all-conference accolades. Over his program-high nine seasons at the helm of the squad, Turco coached 34 all-conference players, as well as five conference Players of the Year (two offensive, two defensive and one goalie). Additionally, he was named Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year in 2018-19 after leading the Valiants to the regular-season conference championship.
“David Turco has been a member of the Valiant family for more than a decade and I cannot think of a more deserving person to take over our men’s ice hockey program and continue to guide our student-athletes to success both on the ice and in the classroom,” said Caulfield. “Over the years, he has become a pillar of the Manhattanville community and has continued to tradition of success for our women’s hockey program. We all look forward to his continued success as he moves over to lead our men’s team.”
Turco took over the women’s program prior to the 2011-12 season after serving as an assistant coach with the team since 2009-10. In all, the Valiants qualified for the conference tournament in all 11 seasons. In addition to his hockey duties, Turco also served as Manhattanville’s inaugural women’s golf head coach from 2012-19.
A 2009 graduate of American International College, Turco played four seasons with the Division I Yellow Jackets, serving as team captain as a senior. Over his career, he played in 112 games with 11 goals and 27 assists for 38 career points, including a career-high four goals and 12 assists as a junior in 2007-08. During his juniors’ career, Turco was the 2004-05 MWJHL Most Valuable Player and OHA Provincial Player of the Year, leading the league with 41 goals and 48 assists in 46 games with the Cambridge Winterhawks.
A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, Turco currently resides in Stamford, Conn., with his wife Julia and son Joey.
