Coaching Staff

Head Coach:

Walker Coady

 

Head Coach Walker Coady recently completed his first year with the UNCW Club Ice Hockey Team after taking over as head coaching  on January 1st, 2008. Coach Coady's exceptional knowledge of the game mixed with his experience and passion, led the team on a remarkable eight game winning streak before the Seahawks lost to UNC Chapel-Hill in a overtime shoot-out, 5-4. He would then lead the team in their first ever playoff game, a 4-1 win over Radford, putting the team into the championship game against ODU. Unfortunately the team would fall one goal short of a championship.

Coady would be recognized for his accomplishments with the UNCW Club Ice Hockey team, being named the BRHC runner-up coach of the year.

Coach Coady is a USA Hockey Level 4 coach, and before UNCW,  Walker was the head coach of the Washington Little Capitals  Midget U-16 'AAA' team for the last two seasons and recently completed 20 years as a coach with the same organization.

In 2005 Coach Coady met two major milestones when he first notched his 500th victory and then coached in his 1000th game. Coach Coady was recognized in the December 2005 issue for USA Hockey Magazine for his achievements. Coady was raised in the Washington area and grew up playing for the Washington Little Capitals and Juniors for the Washington CrUSAders. Over the years he has coached numerous Washington area natives who have advanced to the junior and collegiate ranks, a few have even reached the NHL.

Last year Coach Coady also coached the Bishop O'Connell Knights Prep School. This prep school team participated in the tough MSHL. Walker helped lead an inspired O'Connell team to a 5-0 record, winning the prestigious 'Purple Puck' hosted by 3-time MSHL Champions Gonzaga Eagles.

Coach Coady was also the Head Coach of the Hockey Club Washington/Capital Selects, a youth hockey organization which travels each summer to play in the prestigious Czech Hockey Challenge Cup World Championship Tournament held in Prague, Czech Republic.

The 2006 Capital Selects U-16 team, representing the USA, won the Silver medal, finishing the tournament with an impressive 5-1 record, losing only in the championship game against Canada. The team entered the 8-Nation tournament ranked 8th overall. Along the way to the World Championship game, the Americans beat the #1 ranked Lithuanians, 2-0, in the tournaments opening game. Lithuania came into the game having previously won 4 of 5 previous international tournaments. Their only international loss came in triple overtime of the championship game in the German Cup in 2004.

The USA Capital Selects also beat 4th ranked Slovakia 6-0 and 3rd ranked Latvia, 2-1, in the semi-finals to advance to the World Championship contest.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Coach Coady also scouts players for amateur and professional organizations in the US and Canada.

General Manager/ Assistant Coach:

Peter Schwarz

Peter Schwarz will move behind the bench after a  three year career for the UNCW Seahawks. Born in New Jersey and raised in Hanover, New Hampshire, he has been playing goalie in hockey since the age of nine. After playing for numerous junior  programs in New England and  a very successful high school hockey career at Hanover High, Pete would attend Norwich University studying for a degree in criminal justice. However the warm weather of North Carolina would come calling and a transfer to UNCW was in place.

Suffering a year with no hockey, a rink was finally built and after meeting up with Colin, Ian and Blake, history was made with the founding of the UNCW Club Ice Hockey Team in 2005. However, ACHA D3 transfer restrictions would force Pete to miss all but one game, the team's only victory over CNU, 9-3.

In 2006-2007, the season started out relatively strong with a record of 3-3 and a 3.10 GAA. However during the  East Carolina series, a knee injury would end the season early in November and surgery ended any chance of a comeback.

In 2007-2008, determined to finish out his senior year strong, Pete would capture the All-BRHC Goalie of the year award with a league record of 7-1, 2.90 GAA, .901 save% and one shut-out. While finishing out the season with a record of 10-6, 3.25 GAA, .889 save% and one shut-out. He would come one goal away from a team BRHC Championship.

After serving as the team president for three years, Pete will turn his attention to assisting the new student officers and Coach Coady to ensure that the program will last for years to come. He will also serve as the General Manager of the team focusing on recruitment, sponsorships and community relations/ involvement.

Pete also served as a BRHC Board member during the 2007-2008 season being only the second active team president to do so in league history.  After the recent expansion, the BRHC Commissioner has appointed the Assistant Commissioner position to Pete, to assist in the day to day operations of both the Carolina and Virginia divisions of the BRHC.

Pete will begin working full-time with the City of Wilmington after his graduation in May with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in sociology.

 

Assistant Coach:

 

Craig Newkirk

Craig Newkirk was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina and has been with the UNCW Ice Hockey program since its inception three years ago. Coach Newkirk is active within the local hockey community by participating in the local men's league to refereeing games. Craig is currently a registered EMT and serves not only as the assistant coach, but also as the team manager making sure each player is prepared for games and practices.

When Coach Newkirk is not helping the UNCW Ice Hockey program he can be found working for his Wilmington based architectural drafting company he co-owns with Erskine Smith called Smith Newkirk Drafting and Design. If not drafting, Craig can be found in the local waters surfing on his trademark long board.

 

Assistant Coach:

Bryan Hapeman

Bio Coming Soon.