University of Connecticut Athletics
Cavanaugh Signs New Six Year Contract to Lead Men’s Hockey Program
6/2/2022 3:24:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut and men's hockey head coach Mike Cavanaugh have agreed upon terms for a new six-year contract, as announced by director of athletics David Benedict on Thursday afternoon.
"I am pleased that Coach Cavanaugh will be leading our men's hockey program for the foreseeable future," Benedict said. "It is well known that Cav was highly sought after following the 2021-22 season and this contract is more in line with his Hockey East peers whose programs are competing for championships. As our new on-campus hockey facility continues to take shape, this contract reaffirms our investment into the program, and of our intention to compete at the highest level. Cav has put UConn men's hockey on a great path, and I am excited for what's to come."
The contract, which is retroactive to May of 2022, is valued at $3.58 million over the six-year term and includes the opportunity to earn bonuses based on team performance.
"I want to thank David Benedict, the Board of Trustees and the leadership at the University of Connecticut for their continued commitment to me and our men's hockey program," Cavanaugh said. "We have worked hard to build our program into a Hockey East championship contender and are excited to keep building and working until we raise that first championship banner in our new state-of-the-art facility on campus. The future is bright for our hockey team and I am thrilled to be leading this program as we strive to make all of UConn Nation proud."
Cavanaugh will head into his 10th season on the bench in 2022-23 and has the Huskies coming off their best season under his leadership. UConn finished the season ranked No. 19 in the final USCHO.com Top-20 poll after finishing 20-16-0 overall, the first time in program history they ended a season ranked in the national polls. UConn's 20 wins was the highest win total under Cavanaugh and the most wins since his first season in Storrs in 2013-14 (18-14-4). The 20 wins matches their highest win total in the Division I era and the most since that first season in 1998-99.
The Huskies finished with a 14-10-0 Hockey East record, their best league mark since joining the conference in 2015-16. UConn finished tied for fourth in the final standings, matching their highest finish. The Huskies had been tabbed sixth in the Hockey East preseason poll, making it seven out of eight seasons in the league they have outplayed their preseason prediction. UConn has finished as the No. 4 or 5 seed in four of the last five seasons.
