Michael Findorff was hired in the Fall of 2015 as the assistant men’s hockey coach. He will assist Head Coach Gary Heenan with all facets of the program, including day-to-day operations, scouting, recruiting, as well as game and practice preparation.
Findorff brings a wealth of hockey experience to Utica College, both as a coach and a professional player. Prior to Utica, he was the general manager and coaching director for Tahoe Sports and Entertainment in South Lake Tahoe, California.
He increased camp and tournament revenue in his first six months at Tahoe and continued the expansion of ice use by building year round programs for both kids and adults. Other duties at Tahoe included managing and operating the Tahoe Sports Center Ice Arena and encompassing facilities. Findorff managed financials, human resources, food & beverage, events, sales and marketing.
Starting in October of 2014, he became a co-founder, director and head coach of the Elevate Academy program for elite hockey training. His duties included leading all on and off ice practices and recruiting players to join the training program from across California and Nevada. He also developed detailed performance plans on a player-to-player basis. His accomplishments included winning the Northern California High School Hockey League and placing six players in AAA and/or Prep School Programs.
He also built the Future Stars in-house hockey program from a handful of kids to 30 regular players. He directed and coached the program with assistance from other coaches on staff.
A 2009 graduate of Division I Miami-Ohio University, he earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business – Management Information Systems, a minor in World Political History and was on Miami University’s Athletic Director Honor Roll. A four-year letter winner on the ice, he was national runner-up his senior year (2009) and also was on the Team Advisory Council.
While at Miami, the former Red Hawk coached Miami University Youth Hockey from 2005-2009 and also ran summer camps at Colorado College during the summers.
Findorff went on to play professionally over the next two years. He was a member of the New York Islanders (AHL) organization in 2009 and then joined the Phoenix Coyotes organization (ECHL) in 2010.
Originally from Jackson Hole, WY, Michael currently resides in Utica, NY with his wife Tara and their dog Hopson.
