Bill Downey, a former professional hockey player andcoach, joined Harvard as director of hockey operations inSeptember 2010. He directs the daily operations of theCrimson’s men’s and women’s ice hockeyprograms.
Downey came to Harvard from Penn State, where he spent twoseasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater. He was in chargeof organizing travel for the American Collegiate Hockey Associationteam, ordering equipment and serving as assistant director of thePenn State Ice Hockey Camps. He also recruited players from juniorhockey leagues and New England prep schools and participated on anadvisory board as part of the preparation for Penn State’slaunch of NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockeyprograms.
Concurrent to his coaching stint at Penn State, Downey served asa head coach, scout and instructor for Selects Hockey, developinghigh-level youth players from the United States, Canada and Europe.He coached the East Coast and West Coast Selects teams at domesticand international tournaments and organized a six-week clinic inPittsburgh featuring guest coach Mario Lemieux.
During the 2007-08 season, Downey was an assistant coach for theReading Royals of the East Coast Hockey League, assisting inrunning practice, video analysis, opponent scouting and playerdevelopment. He concurrently served as hockey director for TeamComcast and Flyers Skate Zone in Pennsauken, N.J. There he oversawall hockey programs, clinics and camps and promoted the game inPhiladelphia and southern New Jersey.
Downey also served as an Atlantic scout for the Chicago Steel ofthe United States Hockey League in 2007 and since 2007 has beeninvolved in the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program. He hasorganized and instructed at clinics for individuals seeking USAHockey coaching certification.
As a player, Downey spent parts of four seasons playing for theJohnstown Chiefs, Wheeling Nailers and Reading Royals of the ECHL.He was invited to the 2004-05 Pittsburgh Penguins training camp andalso attended the training camp of the Penguins’ AmericanHockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. AtPenn State, he earned ACHA All-America status and helped the IceLions win three national championships.
Downey graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree ineconomics. He is a member of the American Hockey CoachesAssociation and is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach. He residesin Boston.
