Merrimack Mourns Passing of Former Hockey Head Coach Chris Serino
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack and college hockey community is mourning the loss of former men's hockey head coach Chris Serino, who passed away after a lengthy bout with throat cancer Monday. He was 63.
"The thoughts and prayers of the Merrimack College Hockey Program go out to Coach Serino's family," head coach Mark Dennehy said in a statement. "Anyone who knew Coach Serino understood the passion and fight with which he coached. He will be missed."
Serino led the Merrimack hockey program for seven years, including a stint as athletic director. He joined Merrimack College in April of 1998, becoming the sixth head coach in the history of the program. As head hockey coach, Serino led Merrimack to six trips to the Hockey East playoffs prior to the 2004-2005 season, finishing with a career 78-149-27 record in that span.
Serino played an important role in fund-raising efforts for Merrimack's athletic program and was instrumental in the development and progress of the Volpe Athletic Center renovation project. With Serino's input and leadership, the Volpe Athletic Center saw additions such as luxury boxes, a spacious hockey locker room, a VIP room for the Blue Line Club and other improvements.
After his tenure with the Warriors, Serino took the job as head coach and athletic director at Malden Catholic High School, where he led the Lancers to their first-ever Super 8 Championship in 2011 before repeating in 2012. While at MC, Serino coached two of his sons who both played for the Lancers.
Prior to Merrimack, Serino served as an assistant men's hockey coach at the University of New Hampshire, as well as the head baseball coach, and also enjoyed a stint as the head coach of the Northfield Mount Hermon hockey program.
A Saugus, Mass. native, he was first diagnosed with throat cancer while coaching Merrimack in 2001 but was able to overcome the disease and return to the Merrimack bench.
He is survived by his wife, Robin, and his five sons.
Funeral services will be announced at a later time.
Serino will be honored at Merrimack's home opener on Friday, Oct. 26, against Vermont.
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