The Daily Orange

Media Credit: Court Hathaway

After a tough 3-2 defeat at the hands of Niagara last Saturday, Syracuse head coach Paul Flanagan looked on as a team of U-14 girls from Alexandria Bay, N.Y. walked into his team's locker room to receive autographs and talk about Division I ice hockey.

Watching his team inspire a group of young girls was a scene foreign to Flanagan 11 years ago. But after breaking away from a stagnant career in the men's ranks, SU's coach watched as the moment personified a career he'd never envisioned for himself.

"I never thought in a million years (I'd coach women)," Flanagan said.

But in 1999, when Flanagan was an assistant coach for the men's team at his alma mater, St. Lawrence, he found himself in what he calls "the right place at the right time."

The right time happened to be when Flanagan was about to step away from coaching. After 11 years as an assistant, spending weeks on the road recruiting across Canada had taken its toll. He had three young children at home and a wife working full-time. Thus, Flanagan was strongly considering taking a job as a teacher.

But his path drastically changed when St. Lawrence fired its women's hockey head coach. The school's athletic director asked Flanagan if he had any interest in the position.

He seized the opportunity.

"For me it was a chance to be a head coach," said Flanagan. "And live a little bit better quality of life."

Though never having coached women before, Flanagan found great success at St. Lawrence. From 1999-2008, he amassed a record of 230-83-24.

He ranks sixth among active coaches in both wins and winning percentage. And more impressively, in his nine years coaching the Saints, he led five teams to the NCAA Frozen Four Championship, tying him for the most appearances by a coach.

Flanagan wasn't sure what to expect when he began. But over a decade later, he hasn't second-guessed himself.

"Once I started, I really liked it," Flanagan said. "And the more I've been in this, the more I like it. I've met a lot of good people. I've enjoyed it, coaching the girls. I never really looked back."

The second-year Syracuse coach admitted he had to alter his approach to some extent when he transitioned from coaching men to women. But overall, Flanagan said the game is still fundamentally the same, regardless of gender, and his coaching tactics don't change.

"He's a very understanding coach," senior defenseman Brittaney Maschmeyer said. "At the same time, he challenges everybody every single day out in practices and games."

In particular, Flanagan said his players have taught him to handle losing better than he did before, though that isn't to say they don't care about winning as much as men.

His players credit his success to his innate ability to balance being both demanding and understanding.

"Coach knows exactly when to push you and when you're going to break," sophomore forward Megan Skelly said.

While everyone on the Syracuse team reveres their coach's hockey knowledge, they also view him as a father-like figure.

Flanagan's ability to get the most out of his players is already at work for his young SU squad. The Orange (4-5-1) has won four of its last five.

"I enjoy the challenge," said Flanagan. "You get some dedicated Division I athletes who work just as hard as the guys."



jgnolan@syr.edu

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