OHIO UNIVERSITY’S LIONEL MAURON NAMED AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION MEN’S DIVISION I COACH OF THE YEAR
Mauron is Third Bobcats Head Coach to Win Award
UNION LAKE, Mich. – (April 27, 2023) – The American Collegiate Hockey Association announced today that Ohio University Head Coach Lionel Mauron has been named the 2023 Men’s Division I Coach of the Year, as selected by ACHA Men’s Division I head coaches. Mauron is the third Ohio University coach to win the award, joining legendary Bobcat bench bosses Dan Morris, who was named ACHA Men’s Division I Coach of the Year in 2004, and Craig McCarthy, who won the inaugural ACHA Men’s Division I Coach of the Year in 1998.
Mauron was chosen from a group of finalists that included Wyatt Waselenchuk of Minot State University, Gary Astalos of Adrian College, and Mike Rivera of University of Central Oklahoma.
The Bobcats finished the 2022-2023 season with a 30-6-2 record and qualified for the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships for the 30th consecutive season and 31st overall. At the recently concluded 2023 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships, Ohio University won its first two games and made it to the ACHA Men’s Division 1 Semi-Finals for the second consecutive season. During the regular season, the Bobcats defeated the other three national semi-finalists: #1 Minot State University, #2 Adrian College, and #4 Liberty University.
The Bobcats captured the 2022-2023 Central States Collegiate Hockey League (CSCHL) Regular Season Championship, a record 12th in school history, which ties Iowa State University for the most in CSCHL history. For his efforts, Mauron was named CSCHL Coach of the Year.
Although finishing 2021-2022 with a mediocre 17-15-5 overall record, 6-7-1 conference record, and 4th place finish amongst five teams in the CSCHL in Mauron’s inaugural season as head coach, it was an upset win over #2 Minot State University at the 2022 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships that allowed the Bobcats to end the season with the #8 national ranking and springboard the Bobcats rise during the 2022-2023 season.
Originally from Lausanne, Switzerland, Mauron just concluded his third season with Ohio University, and his second season as Head Coach.
Mauron graduated from Ohio University with a Master of Coaching Education in 2022. He previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Curry College in Milton, Mass. During his four years at Curry College, Lionel was a three time All American All-Academic scholar and named a team captain. After graduating from Curry College, Mauron continued his playing career as a professional with the Jacksonville Icemen in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), the Knoxville Ice Bears in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), as well as Lausanne Hockey Club in the Swiss League. Mauron joined the Ohio University staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2020-2021 season.
Lionel and his wife Sophie reside in Columbus, Ohio.
LIONEL MAURON’S CAREER COLLEGIATE COACHING RECORD
| SEASON | W | L | T/OL/SL | WIN % |
| 2022-2023 OHIO * & # | 30 | 6 | 2 | 81.6% |
| 2021-2022 OHIO * | 17 | 15 | 5 | 52.7% |
| TOTALS | 47 | 21 | 4 | 68.1% |
& = Nationals Semi-Finalist
* = National Championships Participant
# = CSCHL Regular Season Champions
Recipients of the ACHA Men’s Division I Coach of the Year Award
1998 Craig McCarthy Ohio University
2000 Joe Battista Penn State University
2001* Josh Brandwene University of Delaware
2001* Bob Zion Eastern Michigan University
2002 Joe Battista Penn State University
2003 Chad Cassel University of Illinois
2004 Dan Morris Ohio University
2005 Joe Augustine University of Rhode Island
2006 Joe Augustine University of Rhode Island
2007 Scott Balboni Penn State University
2008 Chad Cassel University of Illinois
2009 Craig McAlister University of Central Oklahoma
2010 Jeremy Goltz Arizona State University
2011 Dan Phelps Adrian College
2012 M.F. Schurman University of Delaware
2013 Wade Regier Minot State University
2014 Greg Powers Arizona State University
2015 Craig McAlister University of Central Oklahoma
2016 Rick Zombo Lindenwood University
2017 Wade Regier Minot State University
2018 Gary Astalos Adrian College
2019 Chris Haltinner University of Michigan-Dearborn
2020 Kirk Handy Liberty University
2021 Rick Zombo Lindenwood University
2022 Rick Zombo Lindenwood University
2023 Lionel Mauron Ohio University
* Co-recipients
# # #
About American Collegiate Hockey Association
The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) is a recognized 501(c)3 organization of almost 450 college and university-affiliated programs which provides structure, regulates operations, and promotes the quality of collegiate ice hockey throughout the United States. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, the ACHA’s primary mission is to support the growth and development of college hockey programs nationwide. The ACHA identifies standards which serve to unite and regulate teams at the collegiate level and completed its 32nd season in March 2023. For more information, visit achahockey.org.
