Colby College

Blaise MacDonald, the 2017-18 American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) National Coach of the Year, returns as The Jack Kelley Head Coach for Men's Hockey for the 2025-26 season.  MacDonald came to Colby in 2012.  

The Billerica, Mass. native led the Mules to a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title and the NCAA Division III Frozen Four in the 2017-18 season. That year, he became only the 4th NESCAC coach in the last 25 years to earn the Edward Jereniah Award presented by the AHCA to the Division III Coach of the Year.  Earlier in his career, MacDonald finished runner-up for the Spencer Penrose Award (Division I Coach of the Year) in 2000, and was a finalist for the same award in 2002 and 2004.  

MacDonald stood at the helm of the ice hockey program at UMass Lowell for 10 seasons - a span which included three 20-win seasons and a 19-win showing in 2009-10.  The River Hawks advanced to the Hockey East Tournament semifinals twice (2002, 2009) in his tenure, including an appearance in the championship game in 2009, marking just the second appearance in the league title game in the history of the program.  

Prior to his tenure at UMass Lowell, MacDonald served as the head coach at Niagra University, where he founded the ice hockey program and brought the Purple Eagles to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal in only four seasons.  He compiled an all-time record of 91-58-17 in five seasons (.548), highlighted by a 30-8-4 overall clip and a 15-0-2 finish within College Hockey America in the 1999-2000 season. 

An  All-American defenseman at Rochester Institute of Technology, MacDonald was inducted into the RIT Hall of Fame in 1991. At the time of his graduation, he held RIT records for career assists (106) and points (119) by a defenseman.  In addition to his tenures as head coach of three premier programs, MacDonald has served as an assistant coach at Dartmouth, Princeton, Boston University, and UMass Amherst.  While at BU, he served as recruiting coordinator and associate head coach and helped the Terriers to a 144-42-11 record including five appearances in the NCAA Frozen Four and the 1995 national championship.  

During his career as a collegiate hockey coach, MacDonald has recruited and coached many players who have moved on to careers in the NHL.  He played a key role in the development of players such as Adrian Aucoin, Rich Brennan, Greg Gardner, Mike Grier, Scott Lachance, and Tom Poti.  MacDonald has also coached NHL All-Stars Tony Amonte, Kieth Tkachuk, and 1998-99 NHL Rookie of the Year Chris Drury, who helped Colorado to the 2001 Stanley Cup Title.  

MacDonald served on the American Hockey Coaches Association Board of Governors and was honored by Business First for his career achievements and community involvement as part of its 2000 "40 Under Forty" program.  An avid runner, he has competed in six Boston Marathons, recording his best time of 3:08,00 in 1992.  

MacDonald and his wife, Carol, are the parents of four children – sons Cam, Joe, and Jake, and daughter Carly. Cam and Joe are Colby Alums, playing four years of hockey at Colby under their father. Jake is on the current Colby team.