KINGSTON, R.I. – Jan. 26, 2024 – The University of Rhode Island will honor Joe Augustine for amassing 713 wins during his 34-year tenure as head coach of the URI men’s club hockey team and surpassing legendary Frank Keaney as the winningest coach in Rhody history.
Augustine will be honored on Saturday, Jan. 27, before the Rams take on Drexel University at 4 p.m. The ceremony and game will be held at the Bradford R. Boss Arena, 1 Keaney Road, Kingston Campus.
Augustine, a resident of Scituate, played down the accomplishment, saying no one should compare what he has done to Keaney’s overall record of 707-322-14. Keaney, who invented the fast break, won 401 games in basketball, but he piled up a total of 707 wins over 28 years coaching basketball, football, baseball, track and cross country.
In the current season, Augustine’s Rams are 13-11-2. His overall record over the past 34 years is 713-355-75.
Augustine has remarked over the years about Keaney and his impact at what was then Rhode Island State College as a coach, chemist, teacher and innovator. He says William Woodward’s book, “Keaney: If You Don’t Love to Play, Pivot and Go Home,” should be required reading for all student-athletes and maybe all students. Augustine said they would learn that Keaney was a beloved figure on campus who put little Rhody on the map and demanded excellence and integrity from all of his players.
Augustine, a Boston College Hall of Famer, has a stunning record of his own, including:
- Coaching more than 1,000 players
- Winning the national Division I club hockey championship in 2006 against Penn State
- Coaching Team USA in the World University Games in China in 2009.
WHO: Marc Parlange, URI president; Ellen Reynolds, vice president for student affairs; coach Augustine; Jodi Hawkins, director of Campus Recreation; Joe Wilbur, assistant director of competitive (club) sports; Jeff Hebert, class of 1991, representing URI hockey alumni, former coaches and players; and current players.
WHAT: Ceremony honoring men’s club hockey coach Joe Augustine for his 713 wins.
WHEN: Ceremony to take place before Rams take on Drexel at 4 p.m. at the Boss Arena.
TO MAKE COVERAGE ARRANGEMENTS: On Friday, contact Tony LaRoche at 401-874-4894 or email anthony_laroche@uri.edu. On Saturday, contact Dave Lavallee at 401-465-4291 or email, dlavallee@uri.edu.