NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - Merrimack College has named Scott Borek as the eighth head coach of the men's ice hockey program, as announced by Director of Athletics Jeremy Gibson Monday. Borek arrives in North Andover with 33 years of collegiate coaching experience, including eight as a head coach.

"I am confident Scott is a coach who will drive the Merrimack men's ice hockey team to new levels of excellence," said President Christopher E. Hopey. "More important, he understands how a great team both reflects and helps shape a campus culture of success. He has long and deep experience working with recruits and players, parents and alumni, faculty and coaches to advance an institution's vision and values."

Borek will officially be introduced to the Merrimack community at a press conference Wednesday at 3 p.m. The press conference will be streamed online live at MerrimackAthletics.com.

"We are very excited to welcome Scott, Jill and their family to Merrimack and for him to serve as the leader of our men's ice hockey program," Gibson said. "Scott quickly emerged as the top candidate in a very talented and deep applicant pool. I have full faith in his ability to recruit outstanding student-athletes, develop leaders and guide our hockey program to a higher level of sustained success."

"I am honored to lead the Merrimack College men's ice hockey program," said Borek. "I am also very appreciative of the trust placed in me by President Hopey and Director of Athletics Jeremy Gibson . The search committee members have accurately, although modestly, presented the tremendous possibilities that surround the program and the College community. I am excited to get started."

Borek has spent the last 16 years as a Hockey East assistant coach, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament 13 times, while capturing five Hockey East regular season championships and one tournament championship. Over that time span, he has recruited 12 All-Americans, 16 student-athletes who played in the NHL and 18 Hockey East All-Conference honorees.

Serving as the associate head coach at Providence since 2015, Borek's responsibilities included oversight of recruiting, team defense and the penalty kill. This season, the Friars' defense was second in Hockey East and seventh nationally, while the penalty kill also was second in the league and sixth nationally. Providence advanced to the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons with Borek on the coaching staff.

Before Providence, Borek spent 13 seasons as the associate head coach at the University of New Hampshire. Serving as the recruiting coordinator while overseeing the team's forwards and power play units, Borek helped guide the Wildcats to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, a trip to the 2003 Frozen Four NCAA Championship game, one Hockey East Tournament title, and four Hockey East Tournament Championship game appearances.

Prior to joining Dick Umile's staff at UNH, Borek was the head coach at New England College in 2001-02. He also spent five seasons as the head coach of Lake Superior State from 1996-01, following a one-year stint there as Associate Head Coach under current Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson. As the Lakers' head coach, he was named the CCHA Coach of the Year in 2000 and was a Spencer Penrose Award Finalist, given to the Division I National Coach of the Year. Before Lake Superior State, Borek was also the head coach at Colby College from 1993-96 and was a finalist for the Division III Coach of the Year award in 1994.Borek's coaching career began as a student assistant at Dartmouth College, after he sustained a career-ending neck injury during his sophomore campaign. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1985 with a B.A. in English and was immediately named an assistant coach for the Big Green.

Scott Borek : What They're Saying About

Notre Dame Head Coach Jeff Jackson: "Scott is a smart hockey guy, a great recruiter and a tremendous person. I've never been around a more personable, positive and passionate guy. He will do a great job for Merrimack College."

Providence College Head Coach Nate Leaman: "Scott is a tireless worker who has an excellent mind for the game. He is an effective communicator with the student-athletes and develops long lasting relationships with his players. His 16 years of experience provide a great base of knowledge for what it takes to be successful in Hockey East."

Former University of New Hampshire Head Coach Dick Umile: "We go back a long time to when we first worked together at Providence College. Scott gave us a lot of good years working at UNH. I am very happy for him and wish him the very best."

Assistant General Manager of New Jersey Devils Tom Fitzgerald: "Scott is a very comfortable person to be around, and that will bode well for recruiting. He can sell the Merrimack and Hockey East brand, and that's obviously important. I think he's going to do a great job."

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