Princeton Names Len Quesnelle Head Coach Of Hockey
May 30, 2000 | Men's Ice Hockey
May 30, 2000
PRINCETON, N.J. - Len Quesnelle'88, who has been a member of the Princeton University men's hockey program for a total of 16 years, has been named the 14th head coach of the men's hockey team.
"Len has emerged from a very arduous process, his ascendance strengthened by his ability to compete for the job," Director of Athletics Gary Walters said. "The fact that Len himself is a graduate of Princeton and played a significant role in shaping the current Princeton hockey program significantly bolstered his candidacy in the judgement of the advisory committee."
A native of Bramalea, Ont., Quesnelle was a standout defenseman for Princeton, appearing in 106 games and earning All-Ivy League honors as a senior as well as the Class of 1941 Championship Award for winning spirit.
Quesnelle was the senior member of the Princeton coaching staff for the past nine years under Don Cahoon. Quesnelle's recruiting and coaching have been crucial during Princeton's recent surge into national prominence. During the past three years the Tigers have won an ECAC championship, an Ivy League crown and a title at the prestigious Mariucci Classic. The Tigers also went to the 1998 NCAA tournament, losing 2-1 to eventual-champion Michigan, and were ranked as high as No. 6 in the national polls. Princeton went 10-16-4 in the final year in the tenure of Don Cahoon, who accepted the head coaching position at the University of Massachusetts in early April. Following his 1988 graduation from Princeton, Quesnelle remained with the Tigers as an assistant coach while pursuing a business career with a consulting firm in Princeton. In 1991 Quesnelle's familiarity with team personnel and the recruiting process at Princeton helped ease the transition into the Don Cahoon era.
"I look forward to the opportunity of leading and guiding this program from this point forward," Quesnelle said. "Princeton University and our hockey program are very special to me personally, both as a coach and as an alumnus, and so I am very honored and grateful for this opportunity."
He and his wife, Jennifer, have a daughter, R?mi, and reside in the Princeton area.