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URI honors men’s club hockey coach Joe Augustine on becoming winningest coach in Rhody history

Family, friends, players, alumni and former coaches, URI officials participate in pregame ceremonies Jan. 27

URI men’s club hockey team coach Joe Augustine, left, accepts a plaque from URI President Marc Parlange during ceremonies honoring Augustine as the winningest coach in URI history. URI photos by Dave Lavallee

KINGSTON, R.I. – Jan. 31, 2024 – The University of Rhode Island men’s club hockey team delivered a powerful gift over the weekend to its coach, Joe Augustine, as he was honored by the University for becoming Rhody’s all-time winningest coach.

Consistent with Augustine’s constant drive for excellence and victories, the Rams presented their coach with a sweep over Drexel University in their weekend homestand. The Rams defeated the Dragons, 5-3, on Friday, and 5-2 on Saturday.

In November, Augustine moved past legendary Rhody coach Frank Keaney for total number of wins. But win number 715 Saturday night might have been even more meaningful, as his wife Jewell, daughter Jaclyn, and son Jon, former players and coaches, former Ram hockey player Bradford R. Boss, ‘55, Hon. ‘82, whose generosity helped make the Boss Arena possible, turned out for pregame and postgame festivities. 

Joe Augustine, left, is joined by team captain Jonathan Shaw, and from left alternate captains, Kevin Kanaczet, Dennis Engelson, Tom Fagan, Ronan Judge.

The weekend victories put the Scituate resident’s 34-year Rhody coaching record at 715 wins, 355 losses and 75 ties.

“Joe has had a massive impact on the University of Rhode Island and the State of Rhode Island,” said URI President Marc Parlange, who presented Augustine with a plaque commemorating the coach’s historic achievement. “He won his 708th game against Northern Illinois in November. Turns out I know the president of NIU, and she also sent her congratulations.

“Coach Augustine has had an incredible career, and I am so pleased to honor him,” Parlange said. “He has given so much to our community, and we are really in his debt for all that he has done for the University. He’s not only a great coach, excellent mentor and true friend, he is a wonderful human being.”

Augustine told the crowd that such an accomplishment cannot be accomplished individually. “Our assistant coaches, medical staff, training staff and administrative staff are all part of this record,” Augustine said. “It’s a team effort. It’s a team within a team, so it’s my pleasure to say thank you to all of you.”

Jonathan Shaw, senior captain of the team, said, “Being part of coach Augustine’s historic achievement means a great deal to me and his teammates. We are happy to have played a small role in our coach being such a big part of our school’s history.”

Augustine, a Boston College Hall of Fame defenseman and former National Hockey League player, has also:

  • Coached more than 1,000 players
  • Won the national Division I club hockey championship in 2006 against Penn State
  • Coached Team USA in the World University Games in China in 2009.

This weekend the Rams will try to push Augustine’s win total to 717, as they face Stony Brook University at the Boss Arena, Friday, Feb 2, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 3, at 4 p.m.