Assistant takes over for Cahoon
By: Bob Nuse
Len Quesnelle’s connection to the Princeton University men’s ice hockey program goes way back.
As an undergraduate, Quesnelle played for the Tigers, where he was a standout defenseman and an All-Ivy League player. For the past 12 years, Quesnelle has been part of the Princeton coaching staff — the last nine of those years as the top assistant under Don Cahoon.
Tuesday afternoon, Quesnelle took on his latest role in the Princeton hockey program when he was appointed the new head coach. Quesnelle replaces Cahoon, who left in April to become the head coach at the University of Massachusetts.
“The last 12 years I’ve had a chance to work here as an assistant and wear a lot of different hats,” Quesnelle said upon his introduction as the new head coach. “I’ve worked alongside Don Cahoon, who is one of the top coaches out there. I’ll take what I’ve learned and put it to good use. I’m looking to take that experience and move forward.”
Quesnelle has been part of the Princeton staff that has enjoyed quite a few good times over the past decade. The 1995 Princeton team advanced to the ECAC finals in Lake Placid, while the 1998 team went to the NCAA tournament and threw a scare into eventual champion Michigan before losing, 2-1.
“The expectations, at least for me, are to see this team go to Lake Placid every year,” Quesnelle said. “That is first and foremost for the hockey program. I have to lead, guide and instruct. And the only way I know how to do that is day-by-day. We’ve created a unique identity here and that is something I want to sustain.
“The way we go about our business and treat out student-athletes is something that is very unique to Princeton. A lot of programs do the big things, but we do so many of the little things that matter.”
Over the summer Quesnelle will have to complete his staff — assistant coach Mike Bois plans to stay with the program — and lay the groundwork for training camp, which begins in October.
“I’m a great believer in if it’s not broken there is no sense in trying to fix it,” Quesnelle said. “I have great trust with the players. We may do some technical things differently, but many of the things will be the same.”
From the players’ standpoint, the transition from Cahoon to Quesnelle would appear to be a smooth one. There are always questions when any new coach steps in — whether he’s been with the program or not.
“I think the consensus on the team was that Len was definitely a suitable choice,” said Kirk Lamb, who will be the captain on next year’s Princeton team. “I posed the question to the guys, and not just because he has been here for 13 years, but is he the most qualified guy for the job? The guys on the team were unanimously in favor of him.
“He’s the head coach now and you can’t expect him to be the same person he was as an assistant. I’ve played here three years under both guys and I think we know what to expect.”
As the head coach, Quesnelle expects the Tigers to compete for an ECAC title every year. And they’ll be getting to work on accomplishing that right away.
“At the end of this year there was an empty feeling in that we didn’t get to Lake Placid,” said Quesnelle, who as a senior player at Princeton won the Class of 1941 Championship Award. “That will be something that will motivate the team in the fall.
“We’ll see a lot of bodies in training camp when we start Oct. 15, and it will be a competitive situation for everyone involved.”
It includes the new head coach, who certainly feels prepared to undertake his new role.
“This is something I’ve been working towards the last 12 years,” Quesnelle said. “Coaches become head coaches through many different routes. I’m just so happy that I’ve spent my entire career at Princeton.”