Jim McNiff, a 1998 Merrimack College alumnus and former student-athlete on the men's ice hockey team, enters his third season serving as volunteer goaltending coach in 2020-21.

In his first season back with his alma mater, Borek helped graduating senior Craig Pantano post four shutouts, among the most by any goaltender nationwide, while his netminders helped produce victories against three of the four Beanpot schools, including two top-15 victories over Boston University and Northeastern University, the latter of which went on to win both the Beanpot and Hockey East Tournament. The Warriors also picked up wins over Hockey East Tournament finalist Boston College and the program's first-ever win on the road against Michigan.

During his second year back on campus, McNiff helped mentor a trio of freshmen goalies for the Warriors. Jere Huhtamaa, Troy Kobryn and James Corcoran helped the Warriors to a two-win improvement from the previous season. The highlight of the season came in late February when Kobryn earned Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week honors when he shut out #15 Providence in Rhode Island, before he won again the following day to sweep the Friars in a home-and-home series. 

McNiff returned to Merrimack after serving in a similar role at Bentley University, where he served as volunteer goaltending coach for the 2017-18 season. He brings a wealth of coaching experience over the past two decades. In addition to being an assistant coach at Wayland High School for two seasons, McNiff spent six years at Providence College before his one-year stint at Bentley. McNiff has been conducting private goalie lessons for the past 20 years and has served as goaltending coach for several junior, prep and youth organizations and teams.

McNiff spent six years on the staff at Providence College as the goaltending/volunteer assistant coach prior to his arrival in Waltham, and he was on the staff during the Friars’ run to the 2015 NCAA championship. McNiff helped Providence netminders set several school records -- including most shutouts in a career, best goals-against average in a single season and best save percentage in a single season -- and helped develop former Providence All-American goaltender Jon Gillies, who was selected as the Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player during the Friars' national championship run in 2015. He was one of two All-Americans and multiple Hockey East First Team All-Stars that McNiff instructed during his tenure at Providence.

McNiff is also the Director of Hockey Development for the Rhode Island Hockey Academy, which runs goaltending and player camps, clinics and private lessons in Rhode Island. McNiff has worked with some of the top collegiate goaltenders and youth goalies at all levels. Some of McNiff's former goaltenders that currently play in the NHL include Cory Schneider of the New Jersey Devils, Scott Darling of the Carolina Hurricanes and Mike Condon of the Ottawa Senators.

McNiff resides in Marshfield, Massachusetts, with his girlfriend, Amy, and his daughter, Caelan.