It’s official: Rand Pecknold is back at Quinnipiac for this year – and for four more.
Six weeks after it was rumored that Pecknold would be leaving Quinnipiac to take a head coaching position at the University of Massachusetts, Director of Athletics and Recreation Jack McDonald announced Pecknold signed a contract extension through the 2016-17 season.
“I’m very excited with my new contract extension,” Pecknold said. “I look forward to another five years at Quinnipiac, and hopefully beyond.”
“It’s been a great 18 years and I’m looking to do many more here,” Pecknold added.
A report on July 2 said that UMass was set to hire Pecknold for a vacant head coaching position left by former coach Don Cahoon, but a second report said Pecknold was offered “a lengthy contract with good financial incentives by Massachusetts,” but turned it down after Quinnipiac made a counteroffer, according to a source.
Pecknold’s extension makes it official that he returns to Quinnipiac for a 19th season.
“Rand and his staff continue to elevate our men’s ice hockey team to national prominence,” McDonald said. “I am pleased that he will continue to guide the program to be successful on the ice and in the classroom while also making an impact in the community.”
Pecknold has been with Quinnipiac since the 1994-95 season. He led Quinnipiac to the National Tournament in 2003 after the team won the MAAC and his team has not posted a losing record in 16 years.
With a career record of 337-230-61, Pecknold is the ninth-winningest active Division I college coach. He signed a contract extension through the 2015-16 season last summer.
He has led the program through numerous changes: Division II to Division I, Braves to Bobcats, MAAC to ECAC Hockey and from the Northford Ice Pavilion to the High Point Solutions Arena at TD Bank Sports Center.
Since the program joined ECAC Hockey in 2005, the team has won a series in each year. Under Pecknold, the Bobcats have won at least 20 games in six of the past eight seasons.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
