PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – With winter sports officially underway this week, a few new faces are preparing for their first season at Plattsburgh State as the Cardinals welcome three new assistants to the winter coaching staffs.
Men's Hockey
Mike Coppola steps in as the new assistant men's hockey coach, joining head coach Bob Emery on the bench for the 2013-14 season. Originally from Massapequa, N.Y., Coppola served as the hockey coach and administrator for the New York Bobcats for the last two seasons. In his time with the Bobcats, Coppola handled all aspects of team operations while preparing players to move on to a number of NCAA programs.
Coppola played Division I hockey at the University of Connecticut men's hockey team, finishing his career as the program's all-time leader in games played with 140. During his time with the Huskies, Coppola recorded 46 points on 22 goals and 24 assists. He earned the team's Silver Bowl Award as a senior and was honored with the Coach John Chapman Award as a sophomore. Coppola was also named team captain in his final season.
After wrapping up his on-ice career, Coppola joined the UConn coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach for one season. In his first stint as a college coach, Coppola assisted in practice planning and video breakdown.
Coppola graduated from UConn in 2010 with a bachelor's in economics. He takes over for long-time assistant Steve Moffat, who was tabbed the new head coach of the Castleton men's hockey team.
The Cardinal men's hockey team begins its season Friday, Nov. 1 against the Potsdam Bears at 7 p.m.
Women's Hockey
Former Cardinal standout Danielle Blanchard returns to Plattsburgh State, rounding out Kevin Houle's staff as the new assistant women's hockey coach for the 2013-14 season.
The only Cardinal women's hockey player to earn All-American accolades four times, Blanchard is one of the finest players to have worn the red and white. She was named a Second Team All-American as a freshman before receiving First Team honors the next three seasons (2007-2009). A member of the 2007 and 2008 National Championship team, Blanchard was also named the 2008 Laura Hurd Winner which recognizes the top Division III women's hockey player in the nation. In addition to her numerous awards, Blanchard ranks second all-time in points (177), goals (87) and assists (90).
Following the conclusion of her on-ice career, Blanchard took her expertise to the bench where she served as an assistant coach for the Willowdale Women's Bantam AA Hockey team in Willowdale, Ontario for the 2009-10 season. Most recently, she worked with the Etobicoke Women's Junior hockey team as an assistant coach. Blanchard has also worked as a hockey instructor at numerous rinks and camps since 2009.
Blanchard graduated from Plattsburgh State in 2009 with a bachelor's in communication studies with broadcast management. She fills the spot left by the departure of Nicole Williams, who resigned over the summer after five seasons with the Cardinals.
The Cardinal women's hockey team opens the 2013-14 campaign at the Norwich East/West Hockey Classic Nov. 2-3. Plattsburgh State will play Norwich on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. before closing out the weekend against Manhattanville at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3.
Women's Basketball
After a three-year stint as the assistant coach at Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Va., Ben Sarraf will make his debut as Plattsburgh State's assistant women's basketball coach in 2013-14 following the departure of Whitney Edwards.
Hailing from Amherst, N.H., Sarraf helped guide the 2012-13 edition of the Hornets to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Semifinals for the first time since the 1989-90 campaign. Under Sarraf's guidance, Lynchburg saw its win total go from seven, to nine, and finally 18 victories a season ago.
Prior to his years at Lynchburg, Sarraf served as the assistant women's basketball coach at Saint Anselm College during the 2009-10 campaign. He graduated from Providence College with a bachelor's degree in accounting before obtaining his master's degree in educational leadership from Lynchburg.
The first weekend of the 2013-14 season takes the Plattsburgh State women's basketball team to Williamstown, Mass. for the Williams Tip-Off Tournament Nov. 16-17. The Cardinals take on Wesleyan at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16 before wrapping up the weekend with a 3 p.m. tip-off against Williams on Sunday, Nov. 17.
