It’s all about family: in mid June, Rob Hutchison ’03 was tapped to serve as head coach of men’s hockey at Skidmore College. A few weeks later, Bobby Ferraris ’93 signed on as Trinity-Pawling’s head hockey coach and associate director of admission. Both had spent a postgraduate year at T-P followed by highly successful college hockey careers, Hutchison at Skidmore and Ferraris at Saint Anselm’s.
“I loved my T-P job and had no intention of leaving,” said Hutchison. “The call from Skidmore was a complete surprise. And it’s the only position that could entice me away. I was the only candidate without college coaching experience so I’m honored to have this opportunity.” It’s quite a nod for Trinity-Pawling’s coach to make the leap to NCAA.
After coaching 12 years of NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey, Ferraris is equally grateful for this chance to return to his alma mater. “I loved my PG year here and chose T-P over other schools. I stayed in touch and came back for alumni games over the years.”
Ferraris is fired up to be back on T-P ice. “T-P’s campus has improved significantly but the feeling of brotherhood is the same. Everyone treats each other well and the sense of community infiltrates everything we do. I love to see the boys’ high fives and watch how the boys and faculty interact across campus. I feel fortunate to be able to come back to serve the School and raise my family in this atmosphere.”
Hutchison agrees that he will miss the tight-knit community and the hockey program he developed in his five years as head coach. “Trinity-Pawling provides a solid foundation for academics and athletics, and I know that Bobby has the credentials and moxie to move the program forward.”
It speaks volumes that the School has cultivated such high quality coaches able to shift seamlessly between high school and college level play, and a real testament to Trinity-Pawling’s hockey family that the past two coaches played for Brian Foster ’79 during his 28 years as head coach. The past 38 years of Pride hockey has been led by alumni – David Reece ’67 coached for 10 years before Brian Foster. “I’m appreciative of the effort and detail that past coaches and players have given to the hockey program, and enthusiastic to doggedly build on the strong traditions and foundation of T-P Hockey,” adds Ferraris.
Best of luck to Hutch and welcome home Bobby!