9.1

SPORTS

The Norwich Guidon
Nov. 13, 2003

Former NU hockey coach Bill Cahill dies of heart attack

By Holly Manning
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

The ECAC East College hockey league suffered a tremendous loss Oct. 5 when RPI women's hockey coach Bill Cahill passed away of a sudden heart attack at age 53. Cahill was a 1973 graduate of Norwich University, where he played ice hockey and later returned for a coaching stint between 1990-95.

Cahill was well-known and respected among the Norwich and Northfield communities, as well as the ECAC hockey family.

"He was a great teacher who could strike up a conversation with anyone," said Mark Bolding, the current NU women's ice hockey coach and former player of Cahill's. "He would always put a positive spin on things and give us good, sound advice, much like a favorite uncle."

Cahill began coaching shortly after his college career, including schools such as New Hampton School, Assumption College, Norwich University and RPI. He made the transition of coaching men to coaching women in 2000, when he took over as the head coach of the women's team at RPI.

Last year, Cahill led his team to the ECAC finals and planted school records for wins, 20-7 overall, and consecutive home victories at 11.

Cahill was awarded the 2003 ECAC East Coach of the Year and was one of six coaches named as a finalist for the NCAA Division III Women's Coach of the Year.

Cahill's friends and players knew that he was not so much concerned with his accolades and awards, but with people in general.

In a recent interview with RPI reporter Scott Robertson, Cahill stated, "I enjoy the players probably the most. You get to share the game with them, and it gives you an opportunity to influence how they approach, play, and enjoy the game."

Cahill had the ability to make people around him feel as if they were worth something, said USM women's ice hockey coach David Venditti, who knew Cahill for four years. Wherever Cahill was, was the "place to be," he said. "I personally had the utmost respect for Coach Cahill as a person and as a coach. He was the guy I looked for in the stands to sit with when recruiting," Venditti said.

Cahill was a quiet coach but knew when to be hard if needed, Bolding said, who served as captain under Cahill. Bolding said Cahill made his teams appreciate the fact they could play college hockey for their school and, above all, he taught his players respect.

"Bill Cahill taught me many things. He taught me about the game, how to love it, how to respect it, and how it just kicks you in the ass, sometimes," said Jayson Moy, a broadcaster at RPI. "He taught me how to have some fun. He taught me many things, and I am the better for it."

Cahill will be remembered as a successful coach, a fatherly figure, and a wonderful friend. Bolding will remember the countless times he stopped by the office to chat about hockey, school and life in general.

Cahill's friendship with opposing coaches just proves how he always put people ahead of the game of hockey.

"This past season during the ECAC playoffs, Coach Cahill and I left the hotel room together in a taxi to the rink to watch Manhattanville play RIT," Venditti said. "We sat there and just talked hockey and life, knowing that in hours we were going to play against each other and realized the game was important, but our friendship was much more important."

Cahill and his players defeated Venditti and the Huskies that night in the ECAC semifinal game with the final score of 2-1. After that game, the first thing Cahill did was congratulate a USM senior he had known for many years on "an amazing four years."

"I know it will be extremely hard for me to look at the bench and not see Coach Cahill there," Venditti said. "He will be missed deeply, and the times spent will be remembered fondly."

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.