Bill Beaney retires as Middlebury MIH coach

At a presser at Middlebury yesterday, Panthers men's hockey coach Bill Beaney announced he would be stepping down as men's hockey coach. Beaney will remain at Middlebury as men's golf coach, a position he has held for the last 21 years.

There will be plenty of time to reflect on Beaney's legendary (sure that word is overused but in this case, at least for D-III, it's true) career and wonder who will replace him (Neil Sinclair, maybe?), but for now let's just look through some of the reaction to the news on twitter.

Beaney ends his career as the winningest coach in D-III NCAA men's ice hockey history at 602-260-59, with 28 of his 35 seasons being spent  as Middlebury's bench boss (1986-2002; 2003-15). Beaney also spent seven years at New England College (1977-1984). The Lake Placid, NY native (not the only memorable Panther from Lake Placid) had an odd year in his final hockey season, as his Panthers defeated the #2 and #3 teams in the country (and Middlebury rivals), Plattsburgh and Norwich, but his team also finished in seventh place in the regular season standing for the first time and the Panthers were eliminated from the NESCAC playoffs in their first game for back-to-back years for the first time ever.

The Middlebury job will not be an easy role for a coach to step into. Whoever ends up taking over the whistle will deal with the pressures of rebuilding an eight time national champion pedigree program after its worst regular season finish since the NESCAC started league play in 1999. Oh and that All-Time coach that you are taking over for? Look over you shoulder, he's still on campus coaching the golf team.

Beaney's retirement also comes just two months after his younger brother, Jeff Beaney, retired from his longtime post as the men's hockey coach of the University of Southern Maine.

Below find the video about Beaney's retirement, as well as some of the twitter reaction. For the official Middlebury release, click here.

Ready for @MiddAthletics presser where it's expected head coach Bill Beaney will announce his retirement pic.twitter.com/PsJRwc9HeV
— Scott Fleishman (@WCAX_Fleish) March 4, 2015

Legendary Middlebury coach Bill Beaney retires: college hockey's huge loss.

— Ted Ryan (@TedRyanVT) March 4, 2015

BREAKING NEWS: @MiddAthletics men's head hockey coach Bill Beaney has announced his retirement more tonight on @WPTZ pic.twitter.com/e90sKv4stk

— Ken Drake (@NC5KD) March 4, 2015

Congratulations Bill Beaney on an amazing 28-year career as the Middlebury College Men's Ice Hockey Coach! http://t.co/tBFM6y5Hh8

— Middlebury College (@Middlebury) March 4, 2015

Congratulations to Coach Bill Beaney on his retirement from Middlebury College hockey #NESCAC #d3hky

— Jeff Fulton (@D3HockeyJeff) March 4, 2015

With Bill Beaney retiring as @Middlebury Men's Hockey Coach, he'll be back in the classroom--i.e., still contributing http://t.co/gzad3Afow1

— Alexander Wolff (@alexander_wolff) March 4, 2015

Beaney will remain on staff at Middlebury as the men's golf coach. He's been in that position for 21 years.

— d3hockey.com (@d3hky) March 4, 2015

Bob Emery on Middlebury coach Bill Beaney's retirement: "He’s had a great career and I’m sure it’s relaxing to step down. (cont.)

— Courtney Lewis (@sportsCourt) March 5, 2015

A stick tap to legendary @Middathletics hockey coach Bill Beaney who is retiring after 602 wins and 8 NCAA titles. http://t.co/LXyAnN8pVF

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 5, 2015

An old school photo of coach Bill Beaney seemed fitting for today! #tbt pic.twitter.com/vOhBoYpy6s

— Middlebury Athletics (@MiddAthletics) March 5, 2015

It's safe to assume James Knelman wasn't at Bill Beaney's retirement presser, yes?

— Hockey in the 'Cac (@hockeyinthecac) March 5, 2015