March
16, 2005
ECACHL Makes Hagwell's Apppointment Permanent
By
Joe Gladziszewski
 |
| Hagwell |
Steve Hagwell’s
first season in charge of operations for the ECAC Hockey League
was met with approval. The ECACHL Executive Committee, chaired
by Yale Senior Associate Athletics Director Wayne Dean, permanently
appointed Hagwell as commissioner of the ECAC Hockey League on
Wednesday.
"This
is a very exciting time for the ECAC Hockey League, as it is for
college hockey across the country," Dean said. "Steve
Hagwell has provided our league and its 12 member institutions
with tremendous leadership and guidance throughout his tenure
with both the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the ECAC
Hockey League. I can think of no one better in college hockey
to lead us into the future than Steve Hagwell. He has tremendous
support from our policy committee, institutional administration,
coaches and officials, as well as the college hockey community.”
When Hagwell
was initially appointed, the executive committee planned to open
the ECACHL Commissioner’s position to a national search
at the conclusion of the current year. However, that was deemed
unnecessary after an evaluation committee spoke with coaches and
administrators, and other college hockey officials. The feedback
received strongly supported Hagwell’s permanent appointment.
The evaluation committee received was in comprised of Ken Ralph
(RPI AD), Sean Frazier (Clarkson AD), Anita Brenner (Cornell Associate
AD), Digit Murphy (Brown women’s head coach), and Tim Taylor
(Yale men’s head coach).
“We
knew we had the right person,” Ralph said.
Among Hagwell’s
accomplishments in promoting and securing the league’s future
include working a contract extension with Pepsi Arena to host
the league’s men’s championship weekend through 2008;
increased television coverage in conjunction with CSTV including
coverage of this weekend’s semifinal and championship games;
several new marketing and corporate partnership agreements; and
the relocation of the league’s hockey offices to the Pepsi
Arena in Albany.
"Let
me be clear: I would not be in this position today if not for
the tremendous support of the ECAC Hockey League administrators,
coaches, athletics department staffs and volunteers who comprise
this league," Hagwell said. "I am the fortunate individual
who will serve as commissioner; however, the heart and soul of
this league are truly the individuals at each of the member institutions."
Since Hagwell’s
initial appointment was a one-year contract, he worked from his
home on Cape Cod during the 2004-05 season.
Hagwell joined
the Eastern College Athletic Conference in August 1999, and was
named Associate Commissioner for men's hockey in 2000. In that
role, he oversaw the day-to day operations of the league and served
as the senior liaison to the league's coaches and athletics administrators.
He also took on the additional responsibility of overseeing the
women's league operations in 2003.
Prior to joining
the general ECAC staff, Hagwell worked at NCAA headquarters in
the public affairs office for over seven years. At the NCAA, Hagwell
was the assistant manager of publishing where he served as liaison
to the Men's Ice Hockey Rules Committee and the NCAA Baseball
Research Panel. He also was responsible for supervising a staff
of editors.
Before his
stint at the NCAA, Hagwell spent time on the sports information
staffs as the University of Kentucky, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse,
and University of Florida.
A graduate
of Michigan Tech, Hagwell and his wife, Carrie, have three children:
Jordy, Joshua, and Jack.
