The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) announced on Wednesday, January 12 that legendary American International College ice hockey head coach Gary Wright has been named the winner of the 2022 John "Snooks" Kelley Founders Award.

The full release of all AHCA awards is available by clicking here.

The award, per the AHCA website, "honors those people in the coaching profession who have contributed to the overall growth and development of the sport of ice hockey in the United States." Wright is the first person associated with AIC to win such an award from the AHCA.

"This award is certainly a nice honor, and I especially appreciate it as it comes from the American Hockey Coaches Association, a great organization whose membership consists of many of my former colleagues in the game," Wright said.

Wright's career at AIC spanned over three decades, lasting from 1984 to 2016. At the time of the conclusion of his career, he was tied for being longest-serving coach in Division I men's ice hockey with Red Berenson at the University of Michigan. Together with the seasons he spent as head coach of AIC's men's golf team, he is one of just two coaches to lead the Yellow Jackets in over 1,000 games, the other being Judy Groff.

Wright's impact on college hockey cannot be overstated, both within AIC and beyond it. He led AIC to an ECAC East title in 1990, the college's first hockey crown since 1969. Eight years later, when the NCAA eliminated ice hockey at the Division II level, Wright was involved in the elevation of AIC's team to the Division I ranks, bringing hockey into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), where he was its first Coach of the Year. In 2003, there was another reorganization, with the foundation of the Atlantic Hockey Association as an entity of its own, and again Wright's involvement was crucial.

More than the role he played as a coach, Wright's longevity meant that he had the opportunity to impact countless lives in his time at AIC, and his impact went far beyond developing the young men in his charge athletically. His commitment to character and accountability ensured the growth of his players, assistant coaches, and even the support staff attached to his teams in all aspects of life.

That fact is reflected in the academic success of his teams. From 1998 through 2016, AIC led the MAAC/AHA in All-Academic Selections with 256, with 17 Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners. His last captain, Chris Porter '16, was Valedictorian of AIC's Class of 2016.

It is also reflected in the growth and success of his former players and assistants, both still in hockey and outside of it. His successor behind AIC's bench, Eric Lang '98/'08, is perhaps the most obvious branch of the Gary Wright coaching tree. Wright's former captain has led AIC to three consecutive AHA Championships, and has done so while continuing the tradition of academic success and character-building Wright instilled in Lang from the day Wright brought Lang onto campus in 1994.

"Gary is one of the most important people in my life. He gave a very below-average hockey player an opportunity to play college hockey and the same below-average hockey player with zero coaching experience an opportunity there. He's as special as person there is. Any time you spend over 30 years at one institution, affecting the lives that he has, it's pretty neat. It's an award well-deserved and warranted. A lot of things we do are things I learned from Gary," Lang said.

The depth to which the roots of that tree have grown were most evident at the MassMutual Center on March 20, 2021. The Atlantic Hockey Championship game featured Lang and the Yellow Jackets facing off against another former assistant coach, Trevor Large, now the head coach at Canisius College. Fifteen years after they both took their first collegiate coaching jobs with Wright, they were battling for an NCAA Tournament berth. More importantly, they were demonstrating how important Wright continues to be to college hockey, even six years since his last appearance behind the bench.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:
In an effort to allow former student-athletes, assistant coaches, and those impacted by Coach Wright a chance to express their appreciation for his impact on their lives, we have included this section. If you would like to contribute a quote, please email seth.dussault@aic.edu.

"Coach's selfless character undoubtedly was one of the great things I remembered about him. He put AIC, the players and staff, and everything and everyone around our program first before anything else. You could see that passion every day. Most of our conversations were about life and family, and I loved how much he cared. I have adopted those qualities in my coaching career, and I will be forever grateful that Gary was my coach here at AIC." AIC Assistant Coach Matthew Woodard '09 (Woodard played for Wright from 2005-09)

"Coach Wright is a mentor and friend. He not only provided me the opportunity to play college hockey, which I am forever grateful for, but also formed the foundation for my coaching career. His work ethic, passion, and care for his players and staff is something I and many of his former players and staff use in business and the sports industry today." AIC Assistant Coach Patrick Tabb '03 (Tabb played for Wright from 1999-03 and also served as an assistant coach with Wright)

"Coach Wright was instrumental in my hockey career at AIC. Being from Springfield, I actually attended his hockey school when I was about 6 or 7 years old. Playing for Coach Wright at AIC was a privilege and all I ever wanted to do was prove that he didn't make a mistake taking a local kid. He is a Class-A person and I am forever grateful for the opportunity he gave me to play college hockey. Congratulations on the Kelley Award, it's well deserved." former captain Austin Orszulak '17 (Orszulak played for Wright from 2013-16)

"An outstanding coach, hockey ambassador, and human being, Gary led the AIC hockey program for over 30 years. He took the program from the ECAC East, to the MAAC and the AHA. He never took a short cut and along the way imparted the principles of discipline and integrity to hundreds of players who remain involved in the game today. For me, Gary gave me a chance to play the game I love, which led to an undergraduate degree and later a law degree. None of it would have happened without Gary and AIC. Congratulations Gary! Good stuff!" Bill Teggart '91 (Teggart played for Wright from 1987-91 and was part of the 1990 ECAC East Championship)

"Congratulations to Coach Wright on winning this prestigious award. I owe a debt of gratitude to Gary for giving me my first opportunity in the DI ranks. During that year I learned lessons from him that have stuck with me throughout my coaching career, knowledge that can only be acquired after 32 years behind the bench as a Head Coach. Coach Wright's ability to develop young men and young coaches is unmatched. His coaching tree, both former players and coaches, is littered with successful graduates in every walk of life. It is only fitting that he wins The John "Snooks" Kelley Founders Award as a man who has contributed to the overall growth and development of this game that we all love so much." Stephen Wiedler, assistant coach, University of Vermont (Wiedler served as Wright's assistant in 2015-16 and coached at AIC until 2020)

"Congratulations to Coach Wright on this tremendous honor. He is truly a worthy recipient of this prestigious award. Gary gave me my first opportunity to coach in college hockey. My time at AIC was extremely influential in shaping the coach I am today. I am one of many individuals who have benefited from Coach Wright's guidance and mentorship. Gary played a major role in my development as a coach and as a person and for that I am forever grateful." Trevor Large, head coach, Canisius College (Large served as Wright's assistant from 2006-08)

"When our daughter arrived on campus at AIC, she brought her love of hockey with her. She saw Coach Wright's hockey program months before she ever saw AIC on the road close to our home against Sacred Heart. When she came to AIC in the fall of 2012, she told me she wanted to be involved somehow with AIC hockey but didn't know how. I suggested she should reach out to the coach and see if there was anything she could do. Coach Wright took her in and had her dealing with equipment plus anything else he could come up with to find a way to be part of it all. I think she may have even checked in on his pet during road trips. Our family is so grateful for the kindness and inclusion that Coach Gary Wright and the AIC Hockey team extended to our daughter Emily and feel he is deserving of this award and so much more for the impact he had on many." Dave Yish (Dave's daughter,Emily, was a student at AIC.)