In his three years as the head coach of women’s hockey, Bill Cahill has motivated his players to compete consistently at a high level both on and off the ice and to gain an understanding for the value of self-discipline and teamwork.
During this past season, Cahill steered his team to one of their most successful seasons ever, setting a school record for wins with an overall record of 20-7.
The Engineers also posted an outstanding 13-1 home record and shattered the school record for consecutive victories with an impressive string of 11 in a row en route to advancing to the ECAC championship game for the first time in school history.
“Winning takes care of itself from day-in, day-out improvement,” said Cahill. “We expect to be successful no matter who we’re up against ... You want to play to your best effort.”
Cahill was named ECAC Coach of the Year for 2003, and the American Hockey Coaches Association recently selected him as one of six finalists for the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year Award.
Several of Cahill’s players have also earned postseason honors for their strong athletic and academic performances this season. Sophomore Julie Vallarelli was named ECAC East Goaltender of the Year, freshman Julie Welte was named Rookie of the Year, and seven players were selected to the All-Academic Team.
“They worked very, very hard,” said Cahill. “They definitely raised the level of play and played with a lot of consistency throughout the season.”
He credits much of their success to solid veteran leadership from upperclassmen and a rigorous off-season training regimen with John Rowland, coordinator of strength and conditioning.
The upperclassmen “provided good leadership for the younger players. There was good chemistry between those 25 players,” said Cahill.
His players also benefited this year from Cahill’s installation of a brand-new player’s lounge equipped with Ethernet ports, comfortable couches, and a flat-screen TV for reviewing game-day video tapes.
During his tenure as women’s hockey head coach at Rensselaer, Cahill has posted an overall record of 47-28-3 and a record of 37-17-2 against ECAC teams. Last season the team advanced to the ECAC semifinals before losing to Manhattanville.
Cahill has coached or played hockey for most of his life. During his college years, Cahill starred as a forward on Norwich University’s hockey team.
“I enjoy the players probably the most. You get to share the game with them, and it gives you an opportunity to influence how they approach, play, and enjoy the game.”
Before becoming the women’s hockey head coach, Cahill was an assistant men’s hockey coach for seven years, serving under Mike Addessa, Buddy Powers, and Dan Fridgen. He also worked as an interim men’s hockey head coach in 1989.
Cahill has enjoyed his coaching experience at RPI because “on both the Division I and Division III levels [RPI athletes] are competitive, not only in athletics but also in academics, ” said Cahill.
“They all want to make a name for themselves. They wouldn’t have come here if they weren’t driven. I think that’s what makes it special—that they’re driven. When you’re coaching, all you have to do is to do some guiding.”
From 1983 to 1988, Cahill served as the head coach of men’s hockey at the New Hampton School, a private boarding school in New Hampton, New Hampshire and then Assumption College in Wor-chester, Mass. He guided Assumption to the ECAC playoffs three times and amassed an incredible .652 winning percentage, the highest in the school’s history.
Cahill also served as the assistant and then the head coach of the men’s hockey team at Norwich University from 1990 to 1995.
Cahill has been actively involved as a clinician at numerous youth sports camps for many years, serving as on-ice director of the Milton Academy Camp for Girls, as an evaluator for the USA Hockey 18-19 year old select camp, and as an assistant to high school hockey camps and the Youth Education through Sports Clinic.
“When a young person goes to camp, it’s a big deal. You want to make that a big deal for these young players, letting them know it’s a great event,” said Cahill.
