David Quinn Named New Men's Hockey Coach at Boston University

David Quinn was announced today as the new men's ice hockey head coach at Boston University.

"BU is a premiere college hockey program, one of the top programs in college hockey," said Quinn from the podium at a Tuesday news conference at BU.

Quinn (BU '89), who is currently serving as an assistant coach with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, will take over for his former head coach, Jack Parker, who recently retired following 40 years, 897 wins, three NCAA championships and a score of Beanpot trophies from 1973 to 2013.

Parker coached his final game on Saturday in a 1-0 loss to UMass Lowell in the Hockey East championship game at TD Garden in Boston, one night after beating Boston College 6-3 in the semifinals. BU also needed to beat UMass Lowell to earn the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. Although that didn't happen, Parker still holds the record for leading 24 of his teams to college hockey's Big Dance.

A former Terriers defenseman and first-round NHL draft choice (Minnesota, 1984) whose college career was cut short by a blood-clotting disorder called Christmas Disease, Quinn, 46, still went on to play two years professionally in the American and International Hockey Leagues thanks to experimental medication.

A native of Cranston, RI, he later spent five years as an associate coach to Parker at BU and was part of its 2009 national title team that defeated Miami (Ohio) in overtime.

"Lots of emotions going through my mind, through me today," said Quinn.

He related that his mother watching back in Rhode Island was probably very emotional about Quinn's coming home. He also quipped that his late father would have wondered why BU had hired his son, rather than someone else.

"It's been an incredible last two weeks," said Quinn, who admitted that he had missed coaching in the college ranks and was looking forward to his return there. He also thanked Parker, saying that he wouldn't have been standing where he was as his mentor's successor were it not for Parker's guidance and leadership.

"I'm humbled, I'm excited, and I wish tomorrow was October 1 for our first practice," said Quinn to conclude his remarks.

Following his playing career, Quinn went on to coach professionally, first as head coach with Lake Erie (AHL), where he compiled a 115-94-27 record, and then with the parent Avalanche. Prior to that, he had been been an assistant coach with Northeastern University and the University of Nebraska-Omaha.