Brockport High School graduate Nick Unger has been a winner both as a player and assistant coach in his hockey career and now will attempt to extend that success to another level as head coach of the National Sports Academy prep school program in Lake Placid.
“This is another step for me with the ultimate goal of becoming a college hockey coach someday, but those jobs are hard to get without prior head coaching experience,” said Unger by phone.
Unger finished his high school career as goaltender for the Blue Devils team that went 13-1 and went all the way to the state semi-finals before falling to Williamsville North. That season paved the way for the team to win the state title the following year.
After joining SUNY Canton for one year and playing for the Buffalo Lightning (now Jr. Sabres) program, Unger went on to Nichols College and, after graduating in 2008, became Assistant Coach for three seasons starting with the 2008-09 ECAC Northeast championship year.
Then he accepted the position as Assistant Coach with the College at Brockport program and his recruiting efforts helped them earn their first playoff appearance this past season since the 2009-10 campaign.
“The hard part is leaving knowing that these are my guys that I helped recruit and next year the first group should be turning the corner as upperclassmen,” said Unger. “But when an opportunity like this arises, you have to jump at it; I will be watching from a distance.”
Unger begins his new position August 1 and follows in the footsteps of other National Sports Academy coaches including current Rochester Amerks head coach Chadd Cassidy and newly named Cortland head coach Joe Cardarelli among a long list.
“I’ve known since high school that I wanted to get into coaching from helping out with coaching clinics as far back as 16 years old. I enjoyed it and always wanted to know more about the drills and styles of play.
“Athletic Director Don MacAdam has more than 40-years experience in hockey and has done a great job moving coaches on to higher levels with all of his connections.
“I like the recruiting aspect and helping mold the players both on and off the ice; basically become an extension of their family.
“While I was in college I knew that that was the level I wanted to reach long term, and hopefully this experience will help get me there.”
