Boston University hockey coach Jack Parker is expected to announce his retirement on Monday after 40 years behind the Terriers bench, according to ESPN's John Buccigross.
We've learned Jack Parker will announce his retirement tomorrow after 40 years as Head Coach of Boston University. #espn #cawlidgehawkey
— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) March 10, 2013
The Boston University coach is the sports third all-time winningest coach with 894 victories (behind York and Ron Mason) and has led the Terriers to three National Championships in 1978, 1995 and 2009. Recently, Parker came under scrutiny when the school commissioned an internal report looking into the men's ice hockey program. The report concluded that players lived in a "culture of sexual entitlement" though didn't go as far as to say that Parker knew of the behavior. The school did, however, strip Parker of his nominal "Executive Athletic Director" title.
The pressure on Parker seemingly mounted as several high-profile players left the program over the last few seasons and he lost ground to Boston College coach Jerry York. The Terriers arch rivals have won each of the last four Beanpots, the last three Hockey East Tournaments and two of the last three National Championships.
Boston University finished the regular season with a 18-15-2 record (15-10-2 Hockey East), earning the Hockey East Tournament's no. 3 seed. The Terriers will host sixth seeded Merrimack in a best-of-three quarterfinals series.
Buccigross has already thrown around a couple of names of possible successors for Parker: Mike Sullivan, Joe Sacco, David Quinn, John Hynes and Mike Bavis.
While I don't think BU would go outside of the school's alumni base, have to think Boston College associate head coaches Greg Brown and Mike Cavanaugh might get some consideration for the soon-to-be vacant head coaching position as well. And while Jerry York shows no signs of slowing, you can also start the speculation as to whether Parker's retirement will speed up the timetable for York passing the baton.
Certainly the end of an era on the other, less cooler side of Commonwealth Ave.