Coaches Corner: Marchetti returns to The Whale

The women's ice hockey team took advantage of this chance to secure a coach for their program, voicing their support throughout the interviewing process for John Marchetti, the man who is now their head coach.

"We pushed for him all along," goalie Laurie Belliveau, TD '98, said. "I got to know him a little bit when he was coaching at Providence, and then enjoyed working with him during the '95-'96 season [when Marchetti served as an assistant coach at Yale]. He gives structure to the program on and off the ice."

Courtesy Sports Publicity Office

Teammate Julianna Schantz-Dunn, CC '00, shared this excitement about Marchetti's arrival. "We thought he could bring a whole new life to the team--and he's done just that. He approaches everything from a positive perspective, and that attitude is extremely valuable in keeping everyone on the team thinking positively too." Yale's squad has equalled its win total of a year ago--four--under Marchetti, and is looking for more.

The success of Marchetti's past teams illustrates the results his coaching has produced. He began his career at Johnston (R.I.) High School in 1974, coaching the boys' hockey team to five state tournament appearances. In 1980, Marchetti started coaching collegiate-level ice hockey at his alma mater, Providence College, where he led the women's team to five ECAC titles in 14 years there. In comparing his coaching experience with men to that of women, Marchetti began, "Women are more receptive to criticism and suggestions. This is a definite strength of the Yale team. They want to learn and respond well to direction."

While many coaches new to Ivy League athletics are quick to mention the frustrating admission standards as a restriction, Marchetti does not to dwell on this. "Certainly we want to recruit great athletes, and are forced to draw those athletes from a smaller pool than many other teams," he said. "This is a challenge we must deal with." Focusing instead on the positive results of this selectivity, Marchetti said, "This team impresses me as being an extremely hard-working group."

Coming to Yale with such support from the players, some of whom he had worked with as an assistant coach, Marchetti could not feel anything but welcome. This atmosphere, along with the positive attitude with which he confronts the unique challenge of coaching Ivy League athletes, has set what Belliveau described as a new, fresh approach for the program. "He really cares about each of us as individuals, and that has helped the team in that each player has higher expectations of herself and of the team," she said.

Under the guidance of Marchetti, these heightened expectations seem both on target and indicative of a promising future for the women's ice hockey team.

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