For Immediate Release
December 9, 1996
 
Cronin Resigns UMaine Position to Join USA Hockey
 
Orono -- University of Maine interim head coach Greg Cronin
has resigned his position effective immediately to accept a
position as assistant coach of the Elite Development Program
of USA Hockey, the National Governing Body for ice hockey in
the United States.
 
UMaine assistant coach Grant Standbrook will serve as head
coach when the Black Bears play host to the JCPenney Classic
at Alfond Arena on December 20-21. Head Coach Shawn Walsh,
who is serving a University-imposed, one-year suspension
returns as head coach on December 24.
 
Cronin, 32, has served as interim head coach since December
24,1995 directing the Black Bears to a 19-13-2 record. In
addition, he led UMaine to a 6-0 record against Canadian
colleges last season.
 
Cronin rejoined the Black Bear hockey program in 1993 after
serving as an assistant coach at Colorado College from
1990-93.  He was the interim co-head coach at Colorado
College from September until November of 1992, leading the
Tigers to a 4-3 mark in seven games.
 
Cronin previously coached at UMaine as a graduate assistant
from 1988-90. He received his master's degree from UMaine in
1990.
 
USA Hockey is the official representative to the United
States Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey
Federation. In those roles, USA Hockey is responsible for
organizing and training teams for international competitions
including world tournaments and the Olympic Games.
 
Cronin's first duties with USA Hockey will be in assisting
Senior Director to the Elite Development Program and U.S.
National Junior team head coach Jeff Jackson. Cronin will
serve as an assistant on Jackson's U.S. National Junior team
staff during two exhibition games in Germany on December 21
and 22 and at the World Junior Tournament at Geneva,
Switzerland from December 26-January 4.
 
The U.S. team opens the tournament with host Switzerland on
December 26.
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Deron Treadwell ([log in to unmask])