NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. -- Courtney Kennedy is more than comfortable at center ice.
The Merrimack College women's ice hockey coach, who was
introduced by the athletic department on March 20, recently sat down for an interview where she discussed her coaching career, what drew her to Merrimack, what she plans to bring to the Warriors and much more.
We transcribed the question and answer portion, and you can also
watch highlights of Kennedy's interview here.
(Editor's note: Some questions and answers have been lightly edited for clarity.)
Question: How'd you get into coaching? What drew you into the field?
Kennedy: "Well, just being into hockey basically my whole life. My father was a hockey player as well as a coach. I started playing hockey at the age of four on the pond in the backyard and just fell in love with it right away. Whether it's street hockey or ice hockey, I was all in, and was fortunate enough to be able to play the game for many years at a high level. I felt very lucky to do so.
"And then at one point, you're hanging them up and I felt like I always knew coaching was there. I always -- I did it a lot in my teens and in high school. I would work summer camps. That's how you made extra cash. And so you'd work all week and then you'd get some cash at the end of the week. That's how you did it. I knew right away that you could really impact a player. They're hungry for different ways to play the game. They're hungry to learn different skills. And to see them actually change and get better in a week's time was unreal to me, and I knew right then that this is something where you could actually make a difference in somebody's life. Did I think I was going to be coaching and that was going to be all? No, I didn't. And every year I feel very grateful I get to still be around this great sport. From a coaching perspective, I've been doing it for years. I'm not sure how many, maybe 20 or 25 years? I've counted so many different players, so many different athletes, and it's been a really fun road. I learn every day. I learn something new every day, and every team is a little different. So every year, it's finding a new way to get the best out of the program and find success and win."
Question: Is there any specific coach or player that was pivotal to your journey and helped you get into your role?
Kennedy: "I always mention my father, Paul Kennedy, just because he was a passionate coach who also just spoke -- I don't want to say the word blunt, it's more like he just spoke his truth. And as a player, I always just knew what exactly what he wanted and what we needed to do, and all of us did. So from his perspective on how he talked to us, and he always felt like he was right with you, and he was a passionate guy. He was definitely a piece of that coaching.
"Then, Joel Johnson, he was my coach at Minnesota and he was a U-18 USA coach. He won multiple gold medals. I was fortunate enough to be on his staff for a few of those tournaments and was able to see his culture, how to piece a team together and what's important. A lot of times with Joel, it was bigger than talent and hockey. It was a lot about who we are in the room and our ability to play, I guess, vulnerable. So you can almost put your guard down and feel comfortable in a hockey locker room, and how you can reap the benefits in terms of what becomes of your team on ice and how they play together. So between Joel, my dad, you also have Ben Smith. He's a philosophy guy. He coached me on an Olympic team. I mean, this guy was strict. He was strict on (defense). I was a D, and I just thought he was really good at details. Playing for him wasn't easy, but I learned so much about the game and how to be held accountable and that you can do it. So, right when you think you can't, you actually can. He was strict and held you to a standard so I feel like I take almost those three coaches and meld it together a little bit to make sure that the athletes having fun, but at the same time, they're getting along with others, and they care about people for being people. They're nice, and then they're being detailed, and they're disciplined and they're not afraid to be pushed and realize that every one of us has another level we can get to."
Question: Can you describe how your experience outside of collegiate sports and how it affects your coaching style?
Kennedy: "When I was in college, I found myself a hockey player but I also -- you take school, you take classes, and you're doing that. And I ended up being an intern at a place called the Bridge in Minneapolis, and it was basically at night, a van would drive around and pick up homeless kids in the city and bring them back to the shelter, where I would be. It was trying to bridge the gap of bringing them back to their families because these were kids, these are teenagers. And I really enjoyed this. I enjoyed almost social work. I enjoyed being out there and helping humans. Because it is hard. It's not easy just being human. And so I feel like through that social work, it's the same thing as coaching. To me, it's similar in terms of what you're doing. You're helping others. You're guiding, you're leading, you're trying your best. And it doesn't mean I'm perfect, or coaches are perfect, but we try our best to be there for the kid. But I think that the social work piece surprised me. I didn't think that would go hand in hand with coaching because it's like this is sports, sports, sports. And that was totally different to me. But there I find them wildly similar."
Question: Could you describe your coaching style?
Kennedy: "I'll use the word 'demanding,' but I don't think it's a scary word. I think, as a group, we will have standards. Merrimack women's hockey will play a certain way, and the players will know what it is, and it'll be part of what they want as well. I think that's how you get the buy in, and the players know what they need to do to be successful. I'm not going to give them 20 things. I'm going to give them three things, and let's do these things and let's do them well. Let's do them better than anybody else, not work for perfection at all, because this is a very imperfect game. I mean, so isn't life, right? It's how you bounce back from mistakes or setbacks or roadblocks. I mean, these kids are in their 20s. There's a lot going on. You're juggling social life, family life with living with others, you know? They use your toothpaste, did they clean the sink? Did they do their dishes? So I find it such a big growth time for the individual at this age group. So at the same time, I'm being very demanding of what I want on the ice, but also keeping perspective. You're just kids and you're growing. And in four years, I'm hoping the Merrimack College student that leaves from the women's hockey program is ready to hit the ground running and enjoy life. Whether it's more hockey, playing pro, going to a nationals or Olympics, or hitting the workforce, getting out there, starting a family. Whatever it might be, I think that we can give them a lot of these tools so they feel grateful for the experience, and I hope they email back and just say, 'Hey, thanks for everything. I'm very grateful for my experience at Merrimack.'"
Question: What factored into your decision to come to Merrimack?
Kennedy: "I'm from Woburn, Massachusetts. I'm just a local person. I grew up there. I did gallivant around and do different things all around the world and everything, and then settled back in. I like what I know. I was 12 years old rollerblading around on this campus when they just put new pavement down. I like that. I feel comfortable with selling what this is. I think anyone would be lucky and fortunate to go to school in Merrimack. ... I think it offers a lot for any student who's looking to have four great years."
Question: What are your impressions of last year's team?
Kennedy: "Well, what I've noticed just being around them in the last few weeks is they're hungry and they're eager. I think what I've learned is they want more than what they did last year, and it's legit. They really want that. They're working out in the weight room, and that's where you can go and you see a lot in there. That's where you can get broken because it's how hard you work. Do you ever give up? And the answer is, 'No, you can't give up. It doesn't mean you're perfect, doesn't mean you're the strongest, most talented, but you choose your work ethic every single day, and you can control that.
"... I'm excited to get out there in the fall, because I think there's something here. Their work ethic and who they are and what they want, they're a very impressive group with a great mindset."
Question: What do you consider to be your biggest challenge when coming to a new program?
Kennedy: "I still don't know where the cafeteria is, if that counts? But just navigating all the new things. This team, the players have been here longer than me, you know? So I think that I have to earn their respect and their trust. I don't take that lightly. I don't think I'm some gift coming in here. I feel like I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I think it was meant to be. I do. I think that you have been waiting for a head job to open up, and this one does. It's 20 minutes from my house. It's in Hockey East.
"Getting to know everybody here, they've been the kindest group. ... And so when I see everything around me, how kind it is and how genuine -- I use the word genuine. It's very real here. I see President (Hopey) a whole bunch of times. Who sees the president all the time? He's present, and I am very impressed by it. It makes me actually love it even more than I even knew coming in. But I think my biggest job is to earn everybody's respect by showing them my work ethic. I show every day that I believe in them, because then all of a sudden they start believing in themselves. And that's a pretty good recipe for success."
Question: In the current era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), what do you think are some qualities that help Merrimack stand out?
Kennedy: "I think I hit on it before with just being genuine. I think what I've learned is what we're telling you is going to be what you get. And what you want to put in is what you're going to get. But it's so important to understand that even with NIL and all that stuff, it's great, but I also think being a student-athlete is a privilege in itself. Players who come here and understand that they're getting an amazing education, friends for life, you know, maybe you're going to each other's weddings, and these are your buddies who have you back when as you go through life. Because there's way more than just hockey out there. I think that's incredibly special in that regard."
Question: What is your approach to recruiting, especially with the challenges the transfer portal brings?
Kennedy: "I feel like I want players who want to be at Merrimack. I don't want to sit there and have to twist an arm or oversell anything. What we're going to do is develop you as a hockey player and as a human. You're going to be surrounded by greatness. You're going to be surrounded by people who care, so the people who actually work on campus, they're actually going to be around to meet you, help you, and be there for you. That's what I've seen so far.
"... I think you're going to have a genuine community that you can feel a part of, and every day you're not going to feel alone. Because it's hard in your 20s when you sort out life. And what I've noticed is this campus is legit, and there are people everywhere that want to help the students. But what we're going to sell here is an opportunity to develop and get better. I mean, you have a whole new pro women's hockey league out there. And they're filling teams. Everybody needs solid players and reliable players, and players that when it gets hard, they don't give up and they stay in the fight. I want every single PWHL coach, every single country that's running a team, to know that when they get a Merrimack athlete, that those kids are going to give it their all. They will never give up. They will give you 60 full minutes. Nothing's too hard for them. No matter what it is, they rise to the challenge."
Question: Is there anything else you want the audience to know?
Kennedy: "I love a good lobster roll. I think they're fantastic. I tend to eat them with a fork and a knife, which I don't like to do in front of people. It's a bit embarrassing. But I tend to do that. And there's a Dunkin' Donuts in the rink. So if that's not a reason to even come in here, I don't know what your problem is. I can't even believe that thing is open. And that is quick service. That is quick service.
"No, I just think that everyone should know that I'm passionate and I care. That's what I'm gonna give and I'm going to show. And yeah, we want to get some wins. We want to raise a banner. I've been looking around to see where that's going to go, preferably right next to the men's. So that's what we're going to be looking to do here. And I'm looking to stay here. I'm not going anywhere. I want to be right here. I want to build this thing higher than Erin (Hamlen) already has. Those players deserve it. They deserve it, and they want it. And so I just cannot wait for September to come."
