Utica University head coach Gary Heenan was named a finalist for the 2025-26 Edward Jeremiah Award, given annually to the College Division (Division II/III) Coach of the Year. Named in honor of the former Dartmouth head coach and sponsored by CCM, The Jeremiah Award will be announced on March 26 at the NCAA Division III Championship banquet in Utica.
To be considered a finalist, one must either be named Coach of the Year at the conference level or advance to the NCAA Division III Ice Hockey National Semifinals.
Earlier this month, Heenan was named the UCHC Conference’s Coach of the Year by his peers for the fifth time. Heenan led the Pioneers to a 20-8-1 overall record in 2025-26, including a 13-2-1 mark in conference play. The Pioneers won the UCHC regular season title for the ninth straight year and earned their sixth UCHC Championship to earn the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Heenan led the Pioneers to their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance, advancing to the national quarterfinals.
Heenan, Utica’s only head coach in its 25 seasons as a program, is 416-193-55 in his career. He led Utica to the 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship game and is 192-38-13 since the UCHC was formed in 2017-18. The Pioneers have made three NCAA National Semifinals appearances under Heenan. This is the sixth straight season and seventh time overall that Heenan has been named a finalist for the Jeremiah Award (2012-13, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26).
2025-26 CCM/AHCA Men’s Ice Hockey College Division Edward Jeremiah Coach of the Year Award Finalists
Jason Bloomingburg, Aurora University, NCHA Coach of the Year, & National Semifinalist#
Matt Bruneteau, Stevenson University, Middle Atlantic Coach of the Year
Rob Haberbusch, Hamilton College, NESCAC Coach of the Year & National Semifinalist#
Gary Heenan, Utica University, UCHC Coach of the Year #
Michael Looney, Assumption University, Northeast-10 Coach of the Year
Mike MacDonald, Universit of Wisconsin-Stout, WIAC Coach of the Year & National Semifinalist
David McCauley, Anna Maria University, MASCAC Coach of the Year
Shawn McEachern, Suffolk University, CNE Coach of the Year
Adam Phillips, Adrian College, NCHA Coach of the Year
Jay Punsky, Salve Regina University, Independent
Jamie Rice, Babson College, Little East Coach of the Year
Doug Schueller, St. John’s University, MIAC Coach of the Year
Mark Taylor, Hobart College, SUNYAC Coach of the Year, National Semifinalist *#
* Past Jeremiah Award Winner
#2025 Finalist
ABOUT THE UNITED COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE
The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is a collaborative effort between eleven institutions to provide a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States. Our membership encompasses a wide geographic area spanning from Central and Western New York to the greater Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas. In its fifth season, the UCHC will incorporate the efforts of ice hockey student-athletes from Arcadia University, Alvernia University, Chatham University, King's College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica College, and Wilkes University into their strong, but evolving membership that strives for on-ice excellence while also preparing student athletes for their off-ice futures. For more on the UCHC, visit the league's homepage at
http://www.TheUCHC.com, or follow the league on Twitter at
http://www.Twitter.com/UCHCHockey.