BC introduces new hockey coach Brown

Greg Brown has strong connections to the past but brings a fresh perspective for the future of the Boston College men’s hockey program.

Brown was formally introduced as the school’s new coach on Monday morning in the Barber Room at the Yawkey Athletic Center.

Brown inherits a nationally recognized program from his former coach and mentor Jerry York, the winningest bench manager in NCAA hockey history, who retired after 50 years, the last 28 at BC.

York and his wife Bobbie attended the ceremony, but it was Brown who commanded the spotlight in a chamber crowded with athletic department administrators, several returning players and former BC teammates.

“So many of my beliefs align with coach York’s, which is why it was so easy to work here for 14 years,” said Brown. “I think we like the same kind of player, someone who plays the speed game and the puck possession game.

“With all that it should be an easy adjustment to get right into it. The formula we had when we were winning a lot of championships is something that can be very successful in college hockey but you have to get the players who can do it.”

York recruited Brown out of St. Mark’s as a defenseman. Brown was a two-time Hockey East Player of the Year and first team All-American at the Heights before embarking on an NHL career.

Brown served as York’s assistant on a 14-year run (2004-2018) that included six Hockey East titles, 11 NCAA appearances and three national championships.

Brown joined David Quinn’s staff with the New York Rangers from 2018-2021 before taking his first head coaching assignment with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL. While head coaching experience is the only thin component on his resume, Brown feels he learned enough in one USHL season to manage the corner office.

“Anytime you get a crack at being a head coach you certainly talk a lot more,” said Brown. “That was the one thing I had to get used to and just the fact that you are running the ship is different. As an assistant you are doing more individual work helping guys in smaller areas where as the head coach you are using broader strokes. I definitely got experience doing that.”

Brown has elected to keep York’s two assistants, Mike Ayer and Brandan Buckley, and can look forward to working with returning team captain Marshall Warren, a senior defenseman.

“I am very happy that I was able to play for him (York), he’s a legendary coach and an awesome person and I wish him the best in retirement,” said Warren. “I’m ready for Coach Brown and I’m very excited about what he’s going to bring to the team.”

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