The University of Alabama Hockey Club didn’t have to look too far or too long to find Coach Kyle Richards’s replacement, as it is naming Phil Tesoriero the head coach of the Division One team.
After beginning his college career at The University of Minnesota-Crookston, Tesoriero finished it at Davenport University before going on to enjoy a seven year professional hockey career. Notable stops for Tesoriero include playing for the Denver Cutthroats of the Central Hockey League to begin his career, the innaugural season for the Birmingham Bulls and the Knoxville Ice Bears of the SPHL.
Tesoriero served last year as the club’s Division Three head coach, leading the revived team to a 10-9-1 record, including a thrilling 4-3 overtime win against the Auburn Tigers to preserve the Tide’s undefeated home record against their rival. The Tide also had a good showing at the Annual Vanderbilt Scholar Shootout, going 2-1 with wins against High Point and Vanderbilt.
Tesoriero will be taking over a young squad with plenty of potential. The Tide will return their second leading points scorer from last season, Nick Messina who had 6 goals and 13 assists and will be looking to end his time with the Tide with a bang. Combine that with returning freshman like Chandler Bilodeau and John Chiarelli and the Division One Tide look to be set for success in their first year under coach Tesoriero.
Oh, he can also do this.