Jim Hunt (ice hockey)
| Sport(s) | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born | Fort Lee, NJ, USA |
| Alma mater | Saint Mary's |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1985–1987 | Saint Mary's (Assistant) |
| 1987–1995 | Paramus Catholic High School |
| 1992–1997 | New Jersey Junior Devils (HC/GM) |
| 1997–2000 | US NTDP (Assistant) |
| 2000–2003 | Fairfield |
| 2004–2007 | New Jersey Hitmen (HC/GM) |
| 2006–Present | New Jersey Hitmen (President) |
| 2009–2012 | USA Hockey (Regional Manager) |
| 2016–Present | USPHL (Deputy Commissioner) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 25-65-7 (.294) (college) |
Jim Hunt is an American ice hockey former head coach and current president of the New Jersey Hitmen.[1]
Career
Hunt got his coaching start as an undergrad while at Saint Mary's. After graduating with a degree in criminal justice and psychology in 1987 he returned home to New Jersey to take over as head coach for the Paramus Catholic High School ice hockey team, working there until 1995.[2] towards the end of his tenure with Paramus Hunt also served as head coach and general manager for the New Jersey Junior Devils of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League. He worked in that dual capacity until 1997 when he was hired as an assistant coach and assistant director of player personnel for the recently created US NTDP.
In 2000, after having four coaches in five years, Fairfield turned to Hunt to stabilize its young Division I program that had gone 4-59-3 the previous two campaigns. In his first season the Stags almost quadrupled their win total, going 11-19-2 and finishing tied for seventh in the conference.[3] The team regressed the next year, recording only six wins, but modest improvements saw an 8-win third season. With the team mired at the bottom of the standings the program was cut as part of a cost-cutting measure by the university that also claimed the football program.[4]
With his time in Fairfield over Hunt once again returned to New Jersey, this time joining the newly formed New Jersey Hitmen. He worked as head coach and general manager for three years and was named as team president in 2006. While remaining with the club Hunt has also served as a regional manager for USA Hockey's American Development Model and was named as a deputy commissioner for the USPHL's youth divisions that are set to begin play in the 2016-17 season.[5]
Hunt was a police officer for 25 years, retiring as a detective for Fort Lee Police Department.
College head coaching record
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Stags (MAAC) (2000–2003) | |||||||||
| 2000–01 | Fairfield | 11-19-2 | 10-14-2 | t-7th | MAAC Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2001–02 | Fairfield | 6-23-3 | 4-19-3 | 10th | |||||
| 2001–02 | Fairfield | 8-23-2 | 7-17-2 | 11th | |||||
| Fairfield: | 25-65-7 | 21-50-7 | |||||||
| Total: | 25-65-7 | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
References
- ↑ "Jim Hunt". Jersey Hitmen. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
- ↑ "has been Jim Hunt named a regional manager of USA Hockey's ADM". The World of Junior Hockey. 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
- ↑ "Jim Hunt Year-by-Year Coaching Record". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
- ↑ "Fairfield Drops Hockey Program". USCHO.com. 2003-02-06. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
- ↑ "USPHL Announces Youth Divisions for 2016-17 Season". New York Junior Islanders. 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2016-08-15.