| Bob Gaudet | |
| Birth Date: | 9 March 1959 |
| Birth Place: | Saugus, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1977–1981 |
| Player Team1: | Dartmouth |
| Player Years2: | 1981–1982 |
| Player Team2: | Fort Wayne Komets |
| Player Positions: | Goaltender |
| Coach Years1: | 1983–1988 |
| Coach Team1: | Dartmouth (assistant) |
| Coach Years2: | 1988–1997 |
| Coach Team2: | Brown |
| Coach Years3: | 1997–2020 |
| Coach Team3: | Dartmouth |
| Overall Record: | 424–482–112 |
| Tournament Record: | 0–1 |
| Championships: | 2006 ECAC Hockey Regular Season Champion |
| Awards: | 1995 ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year Award 2006 ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year Award |
Bob Gaudet is an American ice hockey coach who served as the head coach at Dartmouth from 1997 until 2020.[1]
Bob Gaudet started his term at Dartmouth playing three games in goal for the Big Green as a freshman. Once he became the starter the following year Dartmouth had one of its most successful periods, winning 19 games in back-to-back years and reaching the NCAA tournament both years (the last time Dartmouth was able to do so).[2] Gaudet graduated after the 1980–81 season and pursued a short professional career before retiring a player.[3]
Gaudet returned to his alma mater in 1982 as an assistant coach first under George Crowe and then Brian Mason before accepting an offer to become the head coach at Brown.[4] Gaudet began slowly at Brown, going 1–25 in his first season as he tried to repair a flagging program, rebounding with a 10-win campaign in his second year. In 1992–93 Gaudet got Brown to their first winning season in 16 years, earning the team its first tournament berth since 1976 (their last as of 2021).[5] Two years and two Winning seasons later Gaudet received the ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year Award.
After the promotion of Roger Demment to an administrative position[6] Dartmouth turned to Gaudet to fill the post, giving him a third stint in Hanover. As he had done with Brown, Gaudet took a few years to return Dartmouth a prominent position, providing the Dartmouth faithful with a winning season in 2000–01, their first since his junior season.[2] That began a run of seven consecutive seasons with Dartmouth above .500 including their first conference regular season title in 2005–06. For his effort, Gaudet was awarded his second Coach of the Year Award. In his time at Dartmouth Gaudet has become the second most successful coach in program history, behind only Eddie Jeremiah in terms of both wins and tenure.