The Robert Morris Colonials hockey team continues to collect accolades. On Thursday morning, captain Cody Wydo was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. This time, it was head coach Derek Schooley, who was the recipient of the Atlantic Hockey Conference’s coach of the year award on Thursday.
After winning the AHC tournament and an earning NCAA tournament berth last season, Schooley’s Colonials are 24-7-5 so far in 2014-15, with a 19-5-4 conference record, which was good enough for the program’s first Atlantic Hockey regular season championship.
“This award isn’t about one person,” Schooley said. “It is a team award. The players have made our staff better coaches and deserve all the credit. I would like to thank my staff for a tremendous job they have have done in recruiting and coaching this unbelieveable group of student-athletes. We would not be there without the hard work and dedication they have put into Colonial Hockey.”
Schooley, 44, is the only coach the program has ever had. In his 11 seasons at the helm, Robert Morris has a 161-181-50 record. It’s been the last two seasons that has propelled the program into national contention. The Colonials are 41-13-8 since the midway point of last season.
The AHC coach of the year is annually voted upon by the conference coaches. This is the first time Schooley has won the award.
His No. 20 Colonials will defend their Atlantic Hockey tournament championship beginning with a semifinal matchup with Mercyhurst on Friday at 5:05 p.m.
Photo credit: Brian Mitchell
