Adam Houli Named USJ's First-Ever Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Adam Houli has officially been named the first-ever head coach of the newly added University of Saint Joseph (USJ) men's ice hockey program, it was announced on Wednesday, March 11 by USJ Associate Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Amanda Devitt. Houli will lead the newest Blue Jays program during its inaugural season in the 2026-27 academic year. A former Division III men's ice hockey student-athlete at nearby Trinity College, Houli most recently served as head coach of the Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) during the 2025-26 season. He will begin his role as head coach at USJ on Monday, March 16.
"We are excited to welcome Adam as the first head coach of our new men's ice hockey program," said Devitt. "His relentless work ethic, deep knowledge of the hockey landscape, and unwavering commitment to supporting our student‑athletes' growth make him an outstanding fit for USJ. Adam will play a pivotal role in building this program from the ground up, and we cannot wait to see the impact he'll have on our campus community."
"I am truly honored to be named the first head coach of the University of Saint Joseph men's ice hockey program," said Houli. "I want to thank Amanda Devitt, the search committee, and the entire USJ community for the trust and belief in me to build this program from the ground up, as well as President Dr. Rhona Free for her vision and commitment to adding ice hockey to campus. The opportunity to establish a culture, recruit outstanding young men, and lay the foundation for long-term success is incredibly exciting. Our focus will be on building a competitive program rooted in accountability, development, character, and an exceptional student-athlete experience."
AS A COACH
Houli joins the Blue Jays after most recently serving as the head coach for the Johnstown Tomahawks of the NAHL during the 2025-26 season. The Tomahawks are currently in seventh place in the NAHL East Divison, posting a record of 20-21-5-3. Prior to joining the Tomahawks, Houli founded and served as the General Manager and Head Coach of the New Jersey 87's of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). Founded in 2016, the 87's have won five league championships and two EHL titles under the direction of Houli. With the 87's Houli oversaw all aspects of program development, including recruiting, staffing, budgeting, scheduling, player advancement, and organizational culture. Under the tutelage of Houli, numerous student-athletes went on to play at the NCAA Division I and NCAA Division III levels.
In addition to his junior coaching experience, Houli was selected to serve as an Assistant Coach of Team USA during the 2022 Maccabi Games. While with Team USA, Houli helped manage team logistics, preparation, and player performance during the team's gold-medal winning campaign.
AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE
Houli is a 2011 graduate of nearby Trinity College, where he was a four-year member of the Bantams men's ice hockey program.
A forward, Houli appeared in 102 games during his career, tallying 74 points off 36 goals and 38 assists. In his final season in 2010-11, Houli was named team captain, finishing the season with 14 points off four goals and 10 assists. In 2009-10, Houli was named to the All-NESCAC First Team after pacing the Bantams in scoring for the second-straight season with 25 points on 15 goals and 10 assists. In 2008-09, Houli was an All-NESCAC Second Team selection after tallying 21 points on 10 goals and 11 assists. During his freshman season in 2007-08, Houli was a memeber of the sixth-seeded Bantams' squad that lifted the NESCAC Championship for the second time in program history and made an apperance in the NCAA Tournament.
Houli graduated from Trinity in 2011, earning a degree in Public Policy & Law.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT HOULI
"Adam brings a special work ethic and deep knowledge of several junior hockey leagues. Just those attributes alone will allow Saint Joseph hockey to be a factor from opening day. Once he builds his roster, that's when his knowledge of the game will really shine. This is a great hire for Saint Joseph."
– Matthew Greason Head Men's Ice Hockey Coach, Trinity College
"Adam is a tremendous hire for the University of Saint Joseph. He has won at every level he's coached and has built a reputation as an outstanding communicator and leader. He'll not only recruit high-level student-athletes to Saint Joseph, but he'll also develop them both on and off the ice. Adam understands what it takes to succeed at the Division III level, and I'm excited to watch him lay the foundation and grow the Saint Joseph men's hockey program into a consistently competitive and respected program."
– Michael Gershon Head Men's Ice Hockey Coach, Chatham University
"I was pleased to hear that Adam Houli was named as Head Coach at Saint Joseph. I have observed Adam's progress as an elite player at the prep and college level along with his transition into coaching and front office responsibilities for multiple successful junior hockey programs. The Connecticut College hockey program has benefitted from Adam's ability to develop high end players, many of which have since joined our team. Given his background and abilities I am confident he will quickly build a very competitive Division III Men's Ice Hockey program. I am thrilled that we have a new Division III team in the State of Connecticut which speaks to the growth of college hockey in the State."
– Jim Ward Head Men's Ice Hockey Coach, Connecticut College
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