Eager Quinn gets the nod as new BU head coach

Thanks to USCHO.com

by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor 

The end of the Jack Parker era on the eastern end of Commonwealth Avenue lasted less than 72 hours.

On Tuesday morning, three days after Boston University dropped a 1-0 decision to UMass-Lowell in the Hockey East Final in Boston, the Terriers inaugurated a new era, introducing 46-year-old David Quinn to succeed Parker behind the BU bench.

"I want to thank David Quinn for providing us with every reason to make this choice in naming him the 11th head coach of Boston University men's ice hockey," said Mike Lynch, director of athletics. "He's got diversity of experiences, a great track record of success, and he's committed to the core values of our athletic program -- excellence in athletics, academics and commitment to community. There are high expectations for this job...and David bring all his experience to achieve them."

Quinn, a native of Cranston, Rhode Island, played for Parker from 1984-87. From there, the former first-round draft choice (No. 13 overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1984) was an assistant coach at Northeastern for a year, then held the same position for the University of Nebraska-Omaha from 1999-2002 and came home to serve under Parker as an associate coach from 2004-09, the last time the Terriers won the NCAA title.

He also served three seasons as head coach with the Lake Erie Monsters in the American Hockey League through last Spring.

"BU is a premier college hockey program, but for me it was the premier job," Quinn stated. "I've been very fortunate in my coaching career and in hockey in general. I had the great opportunity to come back for five years and work with Jack as an assistant coach culminating in a national title.  When this job opened up, I couldn't tell you how excited I was, thinking about the opportunity to come back. One thing that struck me after four years in professional hockey was how much I missed the college experience. If it was just about winning and losing, I'd have stayed in pro hockey."

There is one catch, however. Quinn is still an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche, whose season is very much still in full swing. Reports from several Boston-area sources indicated Quinn will finish out the NHL season before jumping in full force to assume his new duties with his alma mater.

"I want to thank Coach Parker for 40 years of sustained excellence," Lynch stated. "He contributed mightily to our athletics brand as well as to the development of the university. Today marks a new beginning, drawing on that past and the rock-solid foundation that was cast by Coach Parker, we're aiming to bring new heights to Boston University."

Parker exited with 897 career victories, which stands as an all-time record for one man guiding one program in NCAA hockey history.

But now it's a different man, one who is no less eager to get started and preserve the legacy Parker created.

"I wish tomorrow was October 1st for our very first practice," was how the new coach ended his remarks.