Breaking: Don Vaughn steps down as Colgate head coach

Photo: Courtesy Colgate Athletics

Don Vaughn, who has been at the helm of the Colgate program as head coach since 1992 (except for a 1-year hiatus to serve as athletic director in 2003-04), has stepped down as head coach. The team was told at a meeting this afternoon.

Vaughn, 62, who played at St. Lawrence from 1981-84, began his college coaching career at his alma mater in 1985. He was a graduate assistant for two seasons and then a full-time assistant in 1987. In 1988 he moved to Cornell, where he spent two years as an assistant coach, and he returned to St. Lawrence as an assistant from 1990-92 before Colgate hired him as its head coach.

Vaughn was tied with Bob Daniels (Ferris State) as the second longest-tenured coach in college hockey with their current teams. Rick Gotkin (Mercyhurst) is the longest-tenured, having served as Mercyhurst’s head coach since 1988.

This past season, Vaughn led the Raiders to their first ECAC Championship since 1990. Colgate made the NCAA Tournament four times in Vaughn’s tenure, including this past season.

I’ll have more on Colgate’s opening and potential candidates for the job in our following newsletter.