March 27, 2001

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) announced on March 23, that Providence College hockey coach Paul Pooley is one of 12 finalist for this year's Spencer Penrose Award which is given annually to the Men's Ice Hockey University Division Coach of the Year. The finalist are comprised of the top vote-getters in conference Coach of the Year balloting.

This season, Pooley guided the Friars to the most wins in his six-year tenure at Providence (22-13-5). The Friars, picked to finish sixth in the preseason coaches poll, finished tied with Maine for second-place in HOCKEY EAST play. The second-place finish was the best finish ever for a Providence College team in HOCKEY EAST action. For his efforts, Pooley earned HOCKEY EAST Coach of the Year honors becoming the first Friar head coach to claim the honor.

Pooley has compiled a 125-118-21 record in his six years as head coach at Providence. He also was a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award in 1996 when he led the Friars to their second HOCKEY EAST Title and a NCAA Tournament birth.

Tom Eccleston is the only Friar head coach to ever capture the Spencer Penrose Award. Eccleston earned the honor in 1964 after leading the Friars to their first ECAC Title and their first NCAA Tournament berth.

The Spencer Penrose Award was named after the Colorado Springs, Colo. benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel complex, site of the first 10 NCAA Hockey Championships. This year's award falls on the 50th anniversary of the first award which was presented in 1951. The winner will be announced in early April and the award will be presented during the annual AHCA Convention in Naples, Fla., on Saturday, April 28.