Former UConn Hockey Coach Bruce Marshall Dead At 54 -- Hartford Courant (by John Altavilla)
Former UConn men's ice hockey coach Bruce Marshall passes away -- University of Connecticut Athletics
Former UConn coach Marshall dies -- College Hockey News
Franklin Pierce coach Marshall, former UConn leader, dies at 54 -- USCHO 
Former UConn hockey coach Bruce Marshall dies -- New Haven Register (by Chip Malafronte) 
Winningest UConn hockey coach, Bruce Marshall, dies at 54 -- Fox 61 (featuring Rich Coppola) 
Loss Of Bruce Marshall Stings Both UConn, Quinnipiac Hockey Programs -- Hartford Courant (by Jeff Jacobs) 

RINDGE, N.H. (October 16, 2016) – Franklin Pierce University is saddened to announce the sudden and unexpected loss of Bruce Marshall, head men's ice hockey coach, who passed away in his sleep early Saturday morning. Marshall was 54.

No cause of death has been announced, pending an autopsy in the coming week. Details regarding memorial plans and the selection of Marshall's successor at Franklin Pierce will be announced as they become available and as deemed appropriate.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 3:30 p.m. -- The Marshall family has released information regarding final arrangements for coach Marshall. A wake will be held on Friday, Oct. 21, from 3-8 p.m., at Athy Memorial Home, which is located at 111 Lancaster Street in Worcester, Mass. A church service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 11 a.m., at All Saints Episcopal Church at 10 Irving Street in Worcester. In lieu of flowers, the Marshall family has requested that all donations be made to the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team.

Born July 23, 1962 in West Boylston, Mass., Marshall went on to become a Connecticut hockey institution before ever making his way to New Hampshire. A 1985 graduate of the University of Connecticut, Marshall returned to his alma mater in 1988 as the third head coach in program history. Taking over a program which was a Division III also-ran and played in an open-air ice rink in rural Connecticut, Marshall used the next 25 years to transition the Huskies to a Division I program with a permanent, 2,000-seat, on-campus rink, which was on the verge of Hockey East membership.

Marshall was either present for, or laid the groundwork for, nearly every important first in program history at Connecticut (bio). A four-year letterwinner as an undergraduate, he served as a senior co-captain in 1984-85, when the team went 14-10-0 and earned the first ECAC playoff berth in school history. In his fourth year as head coach, in 1991-92, he posted the school's first 20-win season (22-4-2). From 1989-90 through 1995-96, Marshall oversaw a run of seven straight years of 15 wins or more, which was unprecedented in program annals. In 1998-99, he would lead the Huskies to 20 wins (20-10-4) in their inaugural Division I campaign, and then proceeded to skipper the squad to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title a year later.

One of just 40 coaches in Division I history to record 350 career wins, Marshall would take a leave of absence from Connecticut early in the 2012-13 season and would ultimately resign later in the year, leaving to tend to matters in his personal life, including a battle with substance abuse -- a battle he would eventually win (more information). After some time away from the sport, Marshall returned to college hockey as a supervisor of officials with the Atlantic Hockey Association -- the spiritual successor to the now-defunct MAAC hockey league. Two years later, on May 21, 2015, he would be named the fourth head coach in the history of the Franklin Pierce men's ice hockey program (hiring release).

The men's hockey program at Connecticut continued its rise after Marshall's departure, building on the foundation he laid. In 2014-15, the Huskies picked up seven conference wins (7-11-4) in their inaugural season in Hockey East -- regarded as the premier hockey league in New England. In 2015-16, the team -- by now playing its home games at the 15,635-seat XL Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Hartford -- was good enough to earn a home series in the opening round of the Hockey East tournament, another program first.

Meanwhile, at Franklin Pierce, Marshall inherited a program which was in many ways similar to the team he took over at Connecticut. Taking the helm of a young program which had never won 10 games in a single season and was entering just its 14th year of varsity existence, Marshall was charged with building the Ravens into a program which could be competitive both within the Northeast-10 Conference and among New England's strong ensemble of Division III teams. Though the Ravens went just 4-15-3 in Marshall's first year at the helm, Marshall had clearly begun to lay the groundwork for just such a rise.

Marshall's fingerprints were present across all aspects of the program: on the ice, off the ice and in the office, where his enthusiasm for his upcoming second season knew no bounds. Off the ice, Marshall was always a ferocious fundraiser, dating to his time at Connecticut, and had already procured more than 60 donors for the 2016-17 season. Looking to build leaders for the future, Marshall put his team through The Program (more information) in September, to undergo leadership and team-building training in preparation for the upcoming season. On the ice, Marshall's touch showed in the increased strength of the team's 2016-17 schedule, which includes games against some of New England's prestigious Division III institutions, including Trinity, Wesleyan and a trip to the 52nd annual Codfish Bowl, hosted by the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Though its chapter in Rindge will, tragically, remain unfinished, Marshall's legacy is one which leaves him revered throughout New England hockey circles. Though grieving themselves, the staff at Franklin Pierce sends its deepest thoughts and condolences to all affected by his sudden loss.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Members of both the Franklin Pierce and New England hockey communities are invited to share their thoughts and memories of coach Marshall. To submit your contributions for inclusion, please contact Matt Janik, Director of Athletic Communication (janikm@franklinpierce.edu).

Bruce Kirsh (Director of Athletics -- Franklin Pierce University)
"Today is a very sad day for the entire Franklin Pierce community. Coach Marshall made a significant impact on our campus and within our ice hockey community. He will be terribly missed. Our deepest sympathy to his family."

FROM THE COLLEGE HOCKEY COMMUNITY

Mike Cavanaugh (Head Men's Ice Hockey Coach -- University of Connecticut)
"The entire UConn hockey community is saddened by the passing of coach Marshall. I knew Bruce for 25 years and saw his passion for the game and coaching. He was a great mentor for many young men who came to Storrs and wore a UConn jersey. His passing is a loss for UConn and the entire hockey community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Marshall family." 

Jack McDonald (Director of Athletics -- University of New England)
McDonald was also Director of Athletics at Quinnipiac University from 1995-2015; during part of his tenure, QU was a fellow Atlantic Hockey member during Marshall's time at Connecticut.
"Bruce was a huge help to me, and all at Quinnipiac, when I arrived in 1995. He was a huge help in the start of the MAAC, now Atlantic Hockey, as well as elevating all of Division I men's ice hockey in Connecticut. He was a great person, friend, coach and family man. I saw Bruce last season, and he was so happy to be coaching at Franklin Pierce. He loved his team very, very much. This is sad. Very, very sad."

Ken Taylor (Associate Athletic Director for Development/Marketing -- Monmouth University)
Taylor was previously Associate Commissioner of the MAAC.
"Before I came to Monmouth, I worked for 16 years at the MAAC. When I started in 1999, I worked with the hockey league on public relations matters. The first person I was told to call was Bruce Marshall. He was the leader of a great group of mostly young and up-and-coming coaches. He was a terrific leader, and a big part of what today is Atlantic Hockey. He will surely be missed." 

Seth Dussault (Athletic Communications Assistant -- American International College)
AIC is a fellow member of the Northeast-10 Conference, as well as a member of Atlantic Hockey in men's ice hockey.
"It was incredibly sad to find out about the passing of Bruce Marshall. I knew coach Marshall well from interacting with him in his capacities as the head coach of UConn hockey and, later, while working for Atlantic Hockey. His teams were always prepared and played with intensity, as well as class and integrity. Undoubtedly, they learned each of those traits from him. He always took the time to talk hockey with me wherever we met, and the smile never seemed to leave his face, which is all the more amazing considering the battles in his personal life that he had to overcome. I will miss those chats and I will miss him. My thoughts are with his family and the Franklin Pierce and UConn families as well."

Dan Daigle (University of Connecticut, Class of 1986)
"Bruce Marshall was a kind and friendly soul. He never took for granted the privilege he had to play collegiate sports. Those of us who knew him from those days, athletes and non-athletes alike, remember him as a good friend. Bruce welcomed everybody. My deepest sympathies to his family. His time came much too soon." 

FROM THE FRANKLIN PIERCE COMMUNITY

Dan Blair (Associate Director of Athletics -- Franklin Pierce University)
"I am saddened to learn of the passing of Bruce Marshall. My deepest sympathies to his four children -- Matthew, Mollie, Marisa and Marikate -- as well as his entire family. Coach Marshall had a significant positive impact on our men's hockey program and all those that he came in contact with on our campus. He will be deeply missed by all in our community. The college hockey world lost one of the good guys far too soon."

David Stockdale (Head Women's Ice Hockey Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"Bruce was a great friend, mentor and colleague in his time at Pierce. I learned a great deal from him and enjoyed interacting with him every day. He was supportive of our entire department and was usually the first guy to call or text his congrats after a win, or his support after a rough day. His time at Pierce may have been short, but his impact was certainly not. My thoughts are with his family, his extended hockey families at UConn and FPU, and with all the many friends he made along the way."

Matthew Janik (Director of Athletic Communication -- Franklin Pierce University)
"As someone who was Connecticut born-and-raised during coach Marshall's time at UConn, I have considered it both a unique privilege and a distinct honor to work with him, even if it will now be for far too short a time. I feel as if I've lost a member of two families: an integral member of our Ravens family, and a beloved member of the Connecticut hockey family. My deepest condolences to all who share our loss today."

Kelsie Hennessey (Former Assistant Athletic Trainer -- Franklin Pierce University)
"I am extremely saddened to hear of Bruce's passing. My heart goes out to his four children and his family. In his short time at Franklin Pierce, he made a huge impact. He truly cared about each and every one of his players, and he could find the silver lining in any situation. I will never forget one of the first practices we had last season, he walked by me and stuck out his hand. I thought he wanted a high five or something, but then he told me that one of his quirks, was that he always needed Hall's cough drops for practices and games. From that day on, I carried them with me and would toss them to him on the bench after every goal we scored. This is just one of the many memories I will cherish from our short time working together.

Zach Emerson (Head Track & Field/Cross Country Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"Coach Bruce Marshall made his impact felt on our department from the very moment he set foot in Rindge. Personally, I will, of course, remember him for his passion for coaching, but also for his unyielding dedication to, and love for, his student-athletes. He was a man who emphasized community and family -- and those were values that he imparted to others on a daily basis as a Raven. His legacy will live on through those that he touched."

Roy Fink (Head Men's Soccer Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"A very sad moment last night that brought things into perspective. Bruce used to text me after every game and say nice things. He was a great man with great values, energy, sense of humor and sense of family. I used to speak to him a lot about how he wants our staff to become a tighter-knit group and support each other like a family. I texted him last night, saying that I know he would have texted me saying 'good win, coach.' Earth lost a great man, heaven gained an angel. May his soul rest in peace."

Liz Coll (Office Coordinator -- Franklin Pierce University)
"Words may not suffice to express the heartfelt sorrow I feel for the passing of Bruce. There wasn't a day in the office that Bruce wouldn't make me smile. Since I joined the Athletics Department, Bruce has been a highlight for me, with his joking personality and positive outlook. He always showed care for all of FPU. Very sad to have lost such a dear friend. I give my condolences to the entire family." 

Stephanie Dragan (Assistant Athletic Director/SWA/Head Volleyball Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"Bruce brought a fun, light-hearted, can-do attitude to work every day. I will miss seeing his smiling face and quirky conversations. I never worked with him on the ice, but he was a pleasure to be around every day in the office. Heaven gained a good soul." 

Brian Fazzino (Head Women's Swimming Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"I have not been here very long and I did not know coach Marshall nearly as well as some others. However, he made me feel welcome and I am really going to miss hearing him in the hallway, talking to other coaches about their day and their programs. He was an incredible part of the history of UConn athletics (a school I grew up rooting for) and an incredible part of Franklin Pierce. He will be missed by many, and my condolences go out to his immediate family, his extended Franklin Pierce family, the UConn family, and all of his current and former players and staff members."

Hannah Griffin (Head Softball Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"In my first couple months at FPU, coach Marshall was one of the coaches who reached out to me to help me with anything. He was always asking if I needed anything, or if he could help me with anything. He was a great support system for me. Every time I saw him, he had a smile on his face. I am very sad to hear of his loss. In my short time knowing him, I know he was a great person and coach, and I will miss him dearly."

Kim Berit (Head Bowling Coach -- Franklin Pierce University)
"I am saddened to hear about the loss of Bruce Marshall. My sympathies go out to the Marshall family. Bruce always took the time to say hello, and to ask how you or your team was doing when passing in the hallway. I will miss chatting with him in the morning when our teams cross paths in the weight room."

Doug Carty (Director of Campus Recreation -- Franklin Pierce University)
"Kind and ambitious, coach Marshall was an asset not only to his hockey program, but to the betterment of the University. I will miss his positive attitude and cheerleading personality."