Erie, PA- In 1988, the Mercyhurst Men's Hockey team appointed a young man by the name of Rick Gotkin as its head coach. Nearly four decades, 600-plus wins, and a lasting legacy later, he's preparing for his final season. Gotkin has announced that the 2025-2026 campaign—his 38th with the Lakers—will be his last, marking the end of an extraordinary career behind the bench.
"Rick Gotkin is more than a coach—he's a cornerstone of Mercyhurst University and a legend in the world of college hockey," said Mercyhurst President Kathleen A. Getz, Ph.D. "For nearly four decades, he has shaped the lives of countless student-athletes, instilling in them not only a passion for the game but also the values of dedication, teamwork, and integrity. His impact on this university and the sport itself is immeasurable. As he prepares for his final season, we celebrate his extraordinary career and the legacy he leaves behind. Mercyhurst is forever grateful for Coach Gotkin."
About Rick Gotkin
Rick Gotkin was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1959. He attended college at SUNY Brockport, where he made the varsity team and played in more than 40 games as a defenseman. He also played hockey for the Binghamton Barons and at SUNY Canton.
His time on the ice reinforced his belief that he could never give up the electric atmosphere that is so deeply woven into a career in hockey. So, moving forward, he spent a short time in Scotland where he was a player-coach. During an interview with USCHO.com a year ago, Gotkin reminisced, "I was not much of a player, so as the coach I was smart enough not to play myself. But I had the opportunity to stay in hockey." Gotkin returned to the U.S in 1984 and became the head coach at SUNY Canton for a season followed by a stint as assistant coach at RPI for a few seasons, enhancing his experience and coaching style in the process.
It was in 1988 when Mercyhurst University named 29-year-old Rick Gotkin the head coach of its men's hockey team. The hockey program had just started a season prior with Coach Fred Lane at the helm. In Gotkin's first season, the Lakers finished with an 11-16-1 record. It took just one season for Gotkin to instill a winning culture in Mercyhurst's hockey program as the Lakers would finish 18-8-4 in his second season.
"Rick not only built the program from the ground up, but he also put Mercyhurst Hockey and Mercyhurst University on the national map," said Athletic Director Joe Spano. "It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside him for over 25 years. He has been one of my greatest mentors as a coach. His success is historic, and his legacy will last forever."
In Gotkin's 37 years behind the bench, much has changed with Mercyhurst hockey, but he has always taken care of his guys and treated his hockey teams like family. In his early years at Mercyhurst, Gotkin and his wife, Diane, were known to do the team's laundry and manage the equipment. Prior to the Mercyhurst Ice Center opening in 1991, the players affectionately referred to themselves as the "boys on the bus" due to constantly being on the road. While Mercyhurst hockey now enjoys access to on-campus facilities and many more staff members than those first few years, to this day, you may still see Gotkin picking up spare hockey pucks around the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
Of historic note, the Mercyhurst Men's Hockey team has competed in all three divisions of NCAA Ice Hockey during Gotkin's tenure. Originally hired when the Lakers were Division III, Gotkin oversaw the move to scholarship hockey in DII and eventually to DI where the Lakers have remained since 1997.
"Rick Gotkin has been more than just a coach to our men's ice hockey program—he's been a mentor, a father figure, and the heart and soul of Mercyhurst hockey," said Vice President for Student Life Dr. Laura Zirkle. "His legacy is etched into every corner of our rink, and his impact on the lives of his players will be felt for generations to come. I am happy to count Rick as my friend and I know I speak for many others when I say, we will miss him."
Gotkin's Accolades
Rick Gotkin has achieved enviable success in his illustrious career as a head coach. He has 611 total wins, 551 losses, and 111 ties for a 52.4 winning percentage. Currently, he ranks 16th on USCHO.com's list of all time-winningest coaches. He has coached 1,273 games, surpassing the 1,200 mark in a dominant 7-3 win against Army in the 2022-2023 season. Gotkin's teams have won their conference six times, won the postseason conference championship three times, and appeared in the NCAA tournament six times. Of those six NCAA tournament appearances, two of them featured national championship appearances. Gotkin is also the only hockey coach in NCAA history to take a team to the NCAA tournament at all three divisions of competition.
Gotkin is the longest tenured active coach in the NCAA, posting a winning record in 26 seasons. He has also won AHA Coach of the Year two times and MAAC Coach of the Year once. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Erie Chapter in 2015 and added to the SUNY Brockport athletic wall of honor in 2023.
"I have spent 37 years coaching at Mercyhurst, a place that always felt like home," said Gotkin. "I will always cherish the countless memories I have made with our student athletes, alumni, and members of the Erie community and beyond. I want to thank my family, the administration, faculty, staff and my colleagues for their unwavering support. I look forward to what's ahead for the Mercyhurst hockey program, and I am honored to be part of its legacy."
To view Gotkin's complete biography, please visit the link here.
What They Are Saying
"It's an honor to celebrate Rick Gotkin and his incredible 37-year career at Mercyhurst, especially his unique history coaching the same program at the Division III, II, and I level. Rick brought me to Mercyhurst, and he's been a great friend and mentor ever since. Our families, including his wife, Diane, and mine, Nicole, have spent countless hours together. In fact, we've shared so many experiences that we often joke about writing a book. Rick has been a great coach to our student-athletes, but his charisma and mentorship extend well into our coaching ranks. Quite simply, Mercyhurst and the hockey community would not be the same without him. I'm thrilled he's going out on his own terms but sad to see him go. Wishing Rick and his family all the best as he enjoys this well-earned next chapter."
Mike Sisti – Head Coach, Mercyhurst Women's Hockey
"Rick is truly one of the good guys in college hockey. College hockey is in a better place because of his coaching for the last 37 years. Personally, for me, I've had two sons (Jack '18 and Brendan '20) who had the privilege of playing for Rick. I don't think they could have played for a better coach or person. When Rick retires at the end of next year, it will be a sad day for our sport."
Brian Riley – Head Coach, Army West Point Hockey
"Rick has been a pillar in the Atlantic Hockey family over the years. He has served as mentor and resource for many, including myself. We are grateful for the legacy he leaves, and we look forward to honoring his countless contributions to Atlantic Hockey over the coming season."
Michelle Morgan – Commissioner, Atlantic Hockey America
"Congratulations to Rick Gotkin on his retirement at the end of the 2025-2026 season. Rick is one of the original Head Coaches in Atlantic Hockey, when the league started and he was always supportive in wanting his team and Atlantic Hockey to grow and compete at the national level. He believed in growing the game, creating more opportunities for the student-athletes to participate in our great game. Rick was a great leader, dedicated, setting a positive example for his players, staff, and the entire Mercyhurst Community. A dear friend, and a true professional, I Congratulate you and wish the very best in your retirement."
Bob DeGregorio – Former Commissioner, Atlantic Hockey America
"I have loved this incredible game passionately for 50 years, and no one has influenced that love more than Rick Gotkin. Rick, your guidance and support have profoundly shaped my journey. The decade we spent together was the pinnacle of my career, a time when I felt valued, respected, and nurtured. Looking back, I realize that no one else could have created the best job of my life like you did. Congratulations on your remarkable college hockey coaching career! I am honored to have coached alongside you. You are more than a friend and a mentor; you are my brother. Your impact on the sport of hockey and the fellowship you provide to the young men you coach is truly immeasurable!"
Bobby Ferraris – Former Associate Head Coach, Mercyhurst Men's Hockey
"I'm thankful every day to be working in college hockey for the past 34 years, Rick gave me my start as an assistant coach at Mercyhurst as he did for so many others still in the game! Coaching is a small and proud community and Rick is one of the few people that automatically pops in your head when someone mentions college hockey. His love and passion for the game and Mercyhurst will never be questioned - he put them on the map and has positively impacted so many young men (players and coaches) through his incredible journey. Your story is not complete yet, I'm sure next year will be an exciting and emotional season for you, and I wish you and your team my best! Take it all in and keep your head held high! Congratulations to you and Diane and thank you for being my friend and mentor!"
Craig Barnett – Executive Director, American Collegiate Hockey Association. Former Assistant Coach, Mercyhurst Men's Hockey.
"Rick would often refer to me as the "genius" who hired him in 1988 during my tenure as Director of Athletics. We and our families have interacted for a very long time since then. In addition to being Director of Athletics, I served as Sports Information Director, public address and play-by-play announcer, Director of Hockey Operations and Director of the Ice Center. I traveled with the team to such states as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alabama, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio and New York. My son worked as Rick's stick boy in the early years and later helped as Sports Information Director, periodic play-by-play and public address announcer, and Ice Center Director. My daughter likewise served in the Sports Information office and covered many hockey games during her years at Mercyhurst. My wife made groundhog cookies for Rick and the players every February 2 and sold tickets at the door for nearly 20 years. I'll let others extol Rick's athletic achievements, the many quality players he produced (both athletically and academically) and the assistant coaches he mentored, who went on to bigger and better things. Years ago, he was even featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces-in-the-Crowd" segment. But there are two things I want to make abundantly clear. First, there would not be a Mercyhurst Ice Center without Rick Gotkin. Period. The early success his teams enjoyed, despite playing nearly 70% of the games out-of-town, spurred the college to build a facility, which opened in December of 1991. And second, I'm certain that Rick would call his family his most important accomplishment since coming to Erie. He met his wife, Diane, in Erie and, together now for nearly 35 years, raised two terrific children, Lindsey and Brandon, both of whom are Mercyhurst alums and are now gainfully employed. My family and I would like to thank Coach Gotkin for his friendship over the years and for his nearly four decades of service to Mercyhurst and the Erie community. I look forward to helping him go out in style next season. As Coach always remarked: "It's not what you got. It's what you do with what you got.""
John Leisering – Former Athletic Director, Mercyhurst University
