Shawn Walsh
William Shawn Walsh (June 21, 1955 in White Plains, New York – September 26, 2001 in Bangor, Maine) was the head ice hockey coach for the University of Maine Black Bears.
Walsh was a third-string goalie for Bowling Green State University. As a sophomore, he decided to concentrate on coaching as a volunteer assistant for the BGSU hockey team. He was graduated from Bowling Green with a bachelor's degree in education. He later earned a master's degree in the same field of study.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Walsh was hired as a full-time assistant coach at BGSU by Ron Mason. Walsh followed Mason to Michigan State in 1979 where they inherited a program that had only won 36 games in its previous three seasons. After only five years, Mason and Walsh had guided MSU to three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, back-to-back 30-win seasons and the 1984 Frozen Four—the school's first Frozen Four appearance in 17 years.
In 1984 Walsh took over a Maine program that had gone 27–65 in the three seasons prior. He built the program into a national power, winning national championships in 1993 and 1999. The 1992–93 Maine team finished the season with an astonishing 42–1–2 record. Maine was also national finalists in 1995. He coached Hobey Baker Award winners Scott Pellerin (1992) and Paul Kariya (1993).
Walsh was suspended from coaching for one year starting mid-season in 1995–96 after a series of NCAA investigations. He returned during the 1996–97 season and quickly built Maine back into a national contender.
Walsh was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as renal cell carcinoma in June 2000. At the time of his death, he was only 46 years old. Walsh had a career record of 399–215–44.[1]
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| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award 1987–88 1989–90 1992–93 1994–95 |
Succeeded by Fern Flaman Dick Umile Bruce Crowder Bruce Crowder |
| Preceded by | Spencer Penrose Award 1994–95 |
Succeeded by Bruce Crowder |
