Bowling Green State University Athletics
Dennis Williams Named New Assistant Hockey Coach
July 03, 2008 | Ice Hockey
July 3, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University hockey program and head coach Scott Paluch has announced that former Falcon player and graduate assistant Dennis Williams has been named assistant hockey coach, replacing Doug Schueller who was named head coach at Division III Saint John's University in Minnesota back in May. With his hire, Williams (1997-2001) will once again complete an all-alumni coaching staff for the Falcons as he joins Paluch (1984-88) and assistant coach Todd Reirden (1990-94).
"I'm tremendously excited to add Dennis Williams to our coaching staff," said Paluch. "He has a great passion for Falcon hockey and his work ethic as a coach, has always been very evident. He has already accomplished quite a bit in his young career and his return to BG will be a great addition for our program."
Williams, who spent this past season as an assistant coach for former Falcon assistant Danton Cole at Alabama-Huntsville, played for the Falcons from 1997 to 2001. The forward competed in 117 career games and compiled 20 career points (12g, 8a), including two career game-winning goals. He was the Howard Brown Coaches' Award recipient following the 2000-01 season, recognizing him as the person who best exemplified professional qualities both on and off the ice en route to leading the Falcons to a CCHA semifinal appearance that season.
Following his graduation in 2001, Williams served as coach Paluch's first graduate assistant at BG in 2002, before moving on to serve as an assistant coach for one season at Utica College during the 2003-04 season.
In 2004, Williams took the reins of NCAA Division III Neumann College in Aston, Pa. and immediately built the program into a national contender. In three seasons with the Knights, he racked up a 35-32-8 record, which included the school's two best seasons in program history.
In his first season at the helm, William's Knights recorded the school's lowest penalty-minute total for a season, as well as their best-ever power play percentage (14%) and penalty kill percentage (80%). His 2006-07 squad - the best in Neumann history - then finished with the program's best overall record of 17-5-5 and the school's best conference record at 8-3-4. The team advanced to the Eastern College Athletic Conference West men's ice hockey tournament final and finished the season ranked third in the nation.
Additionally, the 2006-07 Knights' squad was recognized as having the best power play in the country and finished with three players ranked in the top-5 nationally in points.
"My wife Hollie and I are very excited to come back to BGSU and the Bowling Green community," said Williams. "I had a terrific experience there as both a player and graduate assistant and I'm looking forward to getting to work with coach Paluch and the team once again. It's not everyday you're offered the chance to come back to your alma mater and I'm very grateful for this tremendous opportunity."
A native of Stratford, Ontario, Williams earned his master's degree in Marketing Education from BGSU in 2003 and his bachelor's of science degree in sport management in the summer of 2001, graduating cum laude.
