By Marvin Pave, Globe Staff, 6/17/2004

Mark Mazzoleni has returned to his native Wisconsin and Harvard University is looking for a men's hockey coach.

Mazzoleni, whose record for five seasons at Harvard was 82-72-13, made it official yesterday at a press conference in Green Bay that he has been named coach of the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League.

"It's not very often you can come home to do something you love and raise your family in a place you love, but I'm getting that chance," said Mazzoleni. "Green Bay has always held a special place in my heart and I am excited about the challenge with the Gamblers and the USHL. I also want to do everything I can to advance hockey in the state and especially in northeastern Wisconsin."

In a statement released by Harvard yesterday, Mazzoleni said his decision to leave the university was "very bittersweet for me. I'm leaving a group of athletes for whom I have the utmost respect for, as well as an administration that from Day One -- under both Bill Cleary and Bob Scalise -- has given its support to me, the staff and our program . . . At the same time, my family has been offered an exceptional, unbelievable opportunity. My wife [Karen] and I return to our families and as our [four] children continue to grow they will have the chance to experience some family things that they haven't been a part of because we haven't lived in the area. That was as important as this coaching opportunity."

Athletic director Scalise called Mazzoleni's resignation "a big loss for Harvard. Looking back, one can see that he has really done an outstanding job with our hockey program and I am really proud of what he has done here. His educational approach to coaching, hard work, and knowledge of the game has returned Harvard hockey to prominence in both the ECAC and on the national scene. We think the world of him here, but we understand that this is a great opportunity for him, not only professionally, but for his family as well."

Mazzoleni, 48, a graduate of Michigan State, where he was a goaltender and four-year letterman, was hired by former Harvard AD Cleary in July 1999, to replace Ronn Tomassoni. He took over a team that had gone 66-85-10 over a five-year span and despite an 11-17-2 record his first season, Harvard won its first Ivy League title in six years. The Crimson were .500 or better the past four seasons. Harvard has won the ECAC tournament title two of the past three years and has qualified the past three seasons for the NCAA Tournament.

A former CCHA Coach of the Year at Miami of Ohio, Mazzoleni will be missed, said next year's Crimson captain, defenseman Noah Welch of Brighton.

"We wanted to have him back here next year," said Welch in a statement. "We understand the opportunity that was presented to him, however, and we understand why he's made the move. In the last few years, we were 30 seconds away from three straight ECAC titles, and have made three NCAA appearances. As a player, what you ask for is a chance to compete for championships. While it would have been great to have a chance for at least one more [season] with him, we respect his decision and we all wish him well."

Mazzoleni, who is involved in Green Bay's three-day tryout camp that begins today in Burnsville, Minn., began his coaching career at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where his teams won three consecutive Division 3 national championships (1989-91). The president of the Gamblers, Rob Nicholson, is a boyhood friend of Mazzoleni's.

Harvard now embarks on the process of finding a new coach. Mazzoleni's assistants were Gene Reilly, Sean McCann, and Bruce Irving. McCann, a former Crimson captain, is the only Harvard alumnus on the staff.

This story ran on page C2 of the Boston Globe on 6/17/2004.
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