Harvard has its next men's hockey head coach. Current Michigan associate head coach Rob Rassey will be the Crimson's new bench boss, Harvard announced on Tuesday. Rassey had been at Michigan since 2022 and became associate head coach in July 2023. With Rassey on the Michigan bench, the Wolverines won two Big Ten championships and...
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Current Michigan associate head coach Rob Rassey will be the Crimson's new bench boss, Harvard announced on Tuesday.
Rassey had been at Michigan since 2022 and became associate head coach in July 2023. With Rassey on the Michigan bench, the Wolverines won two Big Ten championships and went to three Frozen Fours.
While he's from Michigan, Rassey has deep local ties.
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He played at Northeastern from 2005-09. His first job in college hockey came as a Harvard assistant in 2013. He was there until 2019.
His other hockey jobs have included being an assistant coach for the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms (2011-13), as an amateur scout for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings (2019-21) and as general manager of the USHL's Omaha Lancers for one year in 2021-22.
Rassey takes over for Ted Donato, who had been Harvard's head coach since 2004 and stepped down in May.
Harvard is coming off two straight down seasons, going 13-17-3 last season and 7-19-6 the year before.
Not only will Rassey have to get the Crimson back on the winning track, but he will have to hit the ground running, as the 2026-27 season begins soon.
Rassey will also have to navigate Harvard through an ever-changing landscape. Whether it's the NCAA 5-year eligibility rule, players entering college from the CHL and the transfer portal (which Harvard doesn't use), Rassey must find a way for Harvard to contend in the New World.
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