Paul Pooley

Paul Pooley is perhaps better known as a long time coach on the American collegiate hockey scene.

But he was a pretty impressive student athlete himself, too.

Pooley was a 1984 Ohio State graduate, earning cum laude status in accounting and marketing. Honors came on and off the ice for Pooley. From 1980-84 he was one of the top players in the CCHA. As a freshman he shared the rookie of the year award. By his senior year he led the nation with 32 goals and 96 points in just 41 games.

He was also a three time member of the CCHA's all academic team.

As the school's all time leading scorer in goals, assists and points, it comes as no surprise he was inducted into the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame. He was named to the CCHA's all decade team for the 1980s and he was the first Buckeyes' hockey player to have his jersey retired.

Despite his excellent hockey resume, the Exeter, Ontario native was never drafted by a NHL team. Upon graduation he signed with the Winnipeg Jets and played two seasons with their AHL farm team in Sherbrooke, winning a Calder Cup in 1985. He also got into 15 games with the Jets over those two years, collecting 3 assists.

He would play one more season of minor league hockey in Fort Wayne, captaining the Komets to a regular season.

Pooley went on to a very successful collegiate hockey coaching career.

He initially returned to his alma mater and served three seasons (1988-91) as an assistant with the Buckeyes.

For eleven seasons (1994-2005) he was head coach at Providence College, leading the Friars to a Hockey East title in 1996. Twice with Providence College he was a finalist for the national hockey coach of the year award.

He then went on to a long tenure as an associate coach at the University of Notre Dame.