Utica College iceman more than a coach

By JOHN PITARRESI
Observer-Dispatch

Gary Heenan knew a long time ago he would coach hockey.

He was 14 when one of his coaches remarked that, based on his comments and questions after games, if he didn't make it some day as a player, he certainly would as a coach.

That's the way it turned out.

Heenan was an All-East defenseman at Hamilton College and played a season of pro hockey in Austria, but he really blossomed when he moved behind the bench.

In four seasons as the founder and head coach of Utica College's young program, he has built the Pioneers into a significant presence. UC reached the ECAC West finals last season, drawing big crowds at the Utica Memorial Auditorium and creating a lot of excitement in the Mohawk Valley.

Earlier this year, Heenan accepted an assistant coaching job at Union College in Schenectady, only to resign a few days later. He immediately returned to UC.

College President Todd Hutton praised Heenan not only for his on-ice record, but also for bringing students from across the country to the Mohawk Valley, attracting 6,000 fans to the Aud for the ECAC playoffs, helping his players maintain a 3.0 grade-point average last year, coordinating the college's Leadership Weekend the last three years and a host of other accomplishments.

"The nomination is really about who he is as a person," Hutton said. "He brought such a sense of good citizenship and set all the right values from day one. That is what we were looking for, and we were blessed to find someone like him. He's just been an all-around good citizen and provided real leadership for the young people in the area, not just to members of the hockey team."

"He's outstanding," UC Athletic Director Jim Spartano said. "He's a good person, a good leader. He looks at the whole picture. … He understands academics. He understands community service. He's a special individual, and the kids love playing for him."

Ken Kelly, vice president for student affairs and dean of students at UC, called Heenan a "truly engaged" coach in announcing that he was the 2005 staff recipient of the Dean Robert Woods Student Life Award this year for his outstanding mentoring efforts.

Heenan grew up in Brampton, Ontario, went to St. Thomas Aquinas High School and played two years of junior hockey before going to Hamilton, where he came under the influence of coach Phil Grady and then-basketball coach and athletic director Tom Murphy, whose son, Mike, was his roommate.

"You're turned on to coaching by those who have coached you," Heenan said. "Those relationships with Coach Grady and Coach Murphy gave me a push into the profession."

And he said, working with Spartano has been a plus.
"He's been like a father to me," he said.

Heenan, who recently completed his master's degree at UC, knew the area had a rich hockey tradition. When the Mohawk Valley Prowlers professional hockey team went bankrupt in the winter of 2001, the Pioneers, preparing for their first season, adopted some of the team's sponsors and many of their fans.

"With that in place, the next thing was to sell the town on what we're about," he said. "One of our goals was to get the team involved in as much charity involvement as possible. We do 12 to 15 charity events a year."

Heenan has been involved in numerous charitable causes. He is co-chairman of Team UC for America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk, helping raise more money than any other college in the area. He also has conducted many free hockey clinics, been a guest speaker at high school athletic banquets and taken part in career days at area schools. His team has participated in more than 50 charity and community service events over the last four years.

Another element to the Pioneers' success, Heenan said, is team building through activities such as ropes courses, whitewater rafting and playing softball against a team from Marcy Correctional Facility.

"In terms of coaching Xs and Os, you know where I got that (from Grady)," he said. "I learned a strong work ethic and how to communicate with people."