Cataruzolo Resigns as Trinity Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach

Courtesy Trinity Sports Information

HARTFORD, Conn. – Trinity Director of Athletics Michael Renwick has announced the resignation of David Cataruzolo, effective August 18, 2011, as head coach of the Trinity College men’s ice hockey team.

Cataruzolo guided Trinity men’s ice hockey to a high level of success over the last 14 years, including the last four as head coach, leading Trinity to a 58-39-8 overall record, four consecutive post-season bids, and the program’s third NCAA Quarterfinal appearance in 2008. Cataruzolo has accepted the position of director of ice hockey operations for both the men’s and women’s varsity programs at Harvard University.

John Dunham, Trinity’s first and only other head men’s ice hockey coach in the 37-year history of the varsity program, has been hired as interim head coach through the completion of a national search which has already begun. 

Since 1998, Cataruzolo has helped Trinity qualify for 11 consecutive NESCAC Men's Ice Hockey Championships, two league titles, three trips to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, and an NCAA semifinal appearance in 2005. Three Trinity players have been named to the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Division III All-America Team in the last six years under Cataruzolo's tutelage.

"We are very sad to have Dave leaving our staff, but very happy and supportive of him, his family and his career. He will certainly go on to do great things and are very grateful we were able to share 14 years with him here at Trinity," Renwick said. "Moving forward we are very fortunate that Coach John Dunham is able to step in and add immediate stability, which will truly allow us to run a proper search for a new coach. I am looking very forward to identifying a great candidate to continue what coaches Dunham and Cataruzolo have put in motion."

Dunham headed the Bantam men's ice hockey program for 37 years, beginning his coaching career with Trinity's club hockey team in 1970 and helping it attain varsity status in 1974. Dunham owns a 441-306-34 record with 21 post-season appearances, NCAA appearances in 2003 and 2005, four ECAC North/South Championship titles, and a New England Small College Athletic Conference Championship crown in 2003.

In 2004-05, Trinity qualified for its second NCAA Division III Championship Tournament and posted the program's first NCAA victory, 4-0, at Geneseo State to advance to the Bantam ice hockey team's only NCAA Final Four.

Dunham's 441 career-coaching victories placed him fourth among all active Division III coaches, fifth in Division III history, 11th among all active coaches in all divisions, and 20th among all coaches in all divisions in wins at the time of his retirement. The 2001, 2003, and 2005 NESCAC Coach of the Year and a finalist for the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Division III National Coach of the Year in both 2003 and 2005, Dunham has remained active in hockey circles since his retirement as the scouting director for the Rome Frenzy in the Federal Hockey League and as an assistant coach at the Avon Old Farms School.