Matt Curley Explained

Matt Curley
Current Title:Head coach
Current Team:Des Moines Buccaneers
Current Conference:USHL
Birth Date:17 January 1983
Birth Place:Madrid, New York, U.S.
Alma Mater:Clarkson University (BA)
Player Years1:2003–2007
Player Team1:Clarkson
Player Years2:2007–2008
Player Team2:Twin Cities Cyclones
Player Years3:2007–2008
Player Team3:Flint Generals
Player Years4:2007–2008
Player Team4:Huntsville Havoc
Player Years5:2008–2009
Player Team5:Reading Royals
Player Positions:Defenseman
Coach Years1:2011
Coach Team1:USA U18 (Asst.)
Coach Years2:2012
Coach Team2:USA U17 (Asst.)
Coach Years3:2012–13
Coach Team3:Indiana Ice (asst.)
Coach Years4:2013
Coach Team4:USA U18 (Asst.)
Coach Years5:2013–2015
Coach Team5:Bentley (Asst.)
Coach Years6:2015
Coach Team6:USA U18 (Asst.)
Coach Years7:2015–16
Coach Team7:RB Hockey Juniors
Coach Years8:2016–2018
Coach Team8:EC Red Bull Salzburg II
Coach Years9:2018–2021
Coach Team9:Alaska Anchorage
Coach Years10:2021–present
Coach Team10:Des Moines Buccaneers
Overall Record:7–53–10

Matt Curley is an American ice hockey coach and former player. As of 2021, he is the head coach of the Des Moines Buccaneers in the United States Hockey League.

Early life and education

Curley was born in Madrid, New York. He attended Clarkson University, 12 miles from his hometown, in the fall of 2003. He was a member of the first recruiting class for new head coach George Roll. While the team finished a disappointing ninth place in the conference, Clarkson achieved a runner-up finish in the ECAC tournament. After two middling seasons, Curley's senior year saw him named as an assistant captain for the team and the Golden Knights rocketed up the standings, finishing 2nd in the regular season but ending up as conference tournament champions. Clarkson received the #3 overall seed and was top ranked team in the East Regional bracket but in the opening game they drew Massachusetts and were unable to beat future NHL star Jonathan Quick once in over 67 minutes of playing time.[1]

Curley graduated with a degree in history, law, business administration.

Career

Curley spent the next season with three separate teams in two leagues. In 2008 and 2009, he moved up to the AHL and spent the whole season with the Reading Royals. After recording 7 points in 64 games Curley had had his fix of professional hockey and retired.

Curley returned to the game in 2011 as an assistant coach for the US Under-18 team at the world junior championships and helped the program win its third consecutive title. The following year, Curley was with the US Under-17 squad as an assistant at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and helped the team to a runner-up finish.

The Indiana Ice named Curley as an associate head coach in 2012, but he continued to word with the US national junior team, acting as an assistant for the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships that saw the US finish second behind the Connor McDavid-led Canada team. Curley's tenure in Indiana ended after one season when he accepted an assistant coaching post with Bentley and after a one-year hiatus he returned to the national program and helped team USA to its ninth tournament crown in 2015.

Curley headed overseas in 2015 to coach the RB Hockey Juniors, the junior affiliate for EC Red Bull Salzburg. After a year they promoted him to head coach for EC Red Bull Salzburg II, the team's minor affiliate in the newly created AlpsHL. After missing the playoffs the first year Curley led his team into the quarterfinals in 2018 but was on the move once more when he accepted the head coaching gig at Alaska Anchorage.[2] [3]

In 2021, he was named the head coach of the Des Moines Buccaneers in the United States Hockey League.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Massachusetts (UMA) vs Clarkson (CLK). College Hockey Stats. 2007-05-23. 2018-06-13.
  2. News: Alaska-Anchorage Names Matt Curley Head Coach. College Hockey News. 2018-04-21. 2018-06-13.
  3. News: Matt Curley named head hockey coach. Go Seawolves.com. 2018-04-21. 2018-06-13.
  4. Web site: Matt Curley Named Head Coach of the Des Moines Buccaneers . OurSports Central . June 16, 2021.