June 12, 2006
DENVER - Former Ferris State assistant coach Derek Lalonde has been named assistant coach at the University of Denver, announced today by two-time National Coach of the Year George Gwozdecky. Lalonde replaces former DU assistant coach Seth Appert, who was named head coach at RPI in April. Lalonde, who spent the past four seasons under long-time Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels, will assume his new responsibilities at DU immediately.
"I am very excited to join the University of Denver hockey program," Lalonde said. "I am so impressed with Coach Gwozdecky, his staff and the overall direction of the University. The recent success of the hockey program is a direct reflection of the University and the city of Denver. I am honored to be a Pioneer."
Lalonde helped the Bulldogs to a 76-67-12 during his four-year tenure. Ferris State captured its first Central Collegiate Hockey Association Championship and CCHA Super 6 Championship appearance during a record-setting 31-10-1 season in 2002-03. Lalonde worked primarily with the goaltenders and defensemen and assisted with recruiting at Ferris State. He will assume similar responsibilities at DU.
"Derek has a history of proven recruiting success at the NCAA Division I level," Gwozdecky said. " He has great experience in establishing relationships with student-athletes. As an ex-goaltender, Derek has been able to recruit and develop numerous collegiate goaltenders. We're excited for him to join the DU hockey family."
A native of Brasher Falls, N.Y., Lalonde arrived at FSU after serving two seasons (2000-02) as an assistant coach at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. While at Hamilton, his primary responsibilities included being the Continentals' recruiting coordinator, scheduling, managing practices, supervising training programs and video analysis. Lalonde was Hamilton's junior varsity head coach and served as director of the program's summer hockey school. Prior to his coaching stint at Hamilton, Lalonde held the same position title at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., from August 1998 through July 2000. He assisted with the establishment of the NCAA Division II-III's men's ice hockey program from its inception and in 1998-99, the team went 19-6-1 in the program's first year of competition.
The Flying Dutchmen also captured the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast Championship and qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament in the program's third year of existence. From 1995-98, Lalonde was a graduate assistant coach at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, Mass. Lalonde coached at a Prospects Camp for 16-year olds, while a member of the selection committee for the Empire State Games and the New York State Select 16/17-year old group.
As a collegian, Lalonde was a four-year member (1990-95) of SUNY Cortland State University's men's ice hockey team. He was the recipient of the team's Red Letter Award in recognition of being selected the Red Dragons' MVP during his senior season in 1994-95 and concluded his career as the program's holder of four goaltending records. Lalonde graduated in 1995 from SUNY Cortland State with a bachelor of science degree in education and earned a master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in 1998.
Lalonde, a graduate of St. Lawrence Central High School in Brasher Falls, N.Y., was a standout athlete in hockey, football and baseball. A two-time team MVP and first-team all-league goaltender in hockey, Lalonde was an all-conference second-team pick at quarterback in football and earned first-team all-league kudos in baseball as a senior.
Derek's wife, Melissa, is the head coach of the Ferris State women's soccer team. They have a three-month old son, Alex. Lalonde is a member of the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) and is an avid runner, competing in the 1997 Boston Marathon.
