General | 2024/6/20 9:39:00 AM
The St. John Fisher University Athletics Department has named Reid Leswing as head men's ice hockey coach and Scott McDonald as head women's ice hockey coach. The university announced earlier this year the addition of men's and women's intercollegiate hockey teams, increasing the total number of athletic teams competing in NCAA Division III to 26.
“We are thrilled to welcome Reid and Scott to Fisher College's talented and passionate coaching staff. We are excited that they will serve as the inaugural head coaches of our men's and women's hockey programs and look forward to what they will bring to the university, their experience, their enthusiasm and, most importantly, their support of our student-athletes,” said Jose Perales, vice president for Enrollment Management.
Leswing comes to Fisher from the University of New York at Plattsburgh, where he has served as assistant men's hockey coach and operations manager since 2019. Under his direction, the team finished last season with 21 wins, 5 losses and 2 ties. Prior to his time at Plattsburgh, Leswing served as assistant men's hockey coach at the University of New York at Fredonia, Castleton University and the South African IIHF Division 3 team. Professionally, he played for the Louisiana Ice Gators in 2014.
Leswing was a collegiate athlete himself, playing for the Castleton University men's ice hockey team as an undergraduate, competing in the NCAA Division III ECAC Eastern Conference, and was named team captain during his senior year.
He was the recipient of the SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year award and his team recently finished the season as the No. 8 USCHO ranked team in DIII.
Mr. Leswing is a two-time graduate of Castleton University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in sports management.
“I am excited to join the St. John Fisher community and begin building a hockey program worthy of St. John Fisher's athletic success,” said Leswing. “It is a tremendous honor for me to be named the inaugural coach of the men's varsity hockey team. I would not have been able to assume this position without the support of the other coaches who have mentored me throughout my coaching career. I am grateful for this opportunity to develop my players as leaders in their community and as student-athletes both on and off the ice. I am excited to take on this new challenge and bring St. John Fisher hockey back into the spotlight.”
McDonald joins Fisher after serving three years as the player development coach for the Bishop Kearney Select Girls Hockey program. Additionally, he is the owner and leader of Maverick Hockey Development, designing custom hockey development programs for all Rochester area youth hockey organizations.
Prior to Bishop Kearney, McDonald served as the head women's ice hockey coach at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) from 2006-2018, where he posted a 12-year record of 205 wins, 154 losses and 29 ties. He led the team to a Division III women's ice hockey national championship, winning the title in 2012. Additionally, the team made four NCAA tournament appearances, won two Division I CHA Playoff Conference Championships, two Division III ECAC West Playoff Conference Championships and three Division III ECAC West regular season titles. McDonald was named Conference Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2011, and was named National Coach of the Year runner-up in 2011 and 2012.
From 2003-2006, McDonald served as an assistant coach for RIT's men's Division I ice hockey team, which competed in the Atlantic Hockey Association at the time, and as an assistant coach for the men's Division III team, which competed in the ECAC West. He also spent one year as an assistant men's ice hockey coach at Utica College.
Professionally, McDonald played for the San Angelo Outlaws in San Angelo, Texas, and the IK Vikings in the Swedish Professional League. McDonald graduated from Niagara University, where he played for the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey team during his undergraduate years.
“I am truly honored to be named the inaugural head coach of the St. John Fisher University women's hockey program. The culture and dedication of the athletic department is unmatched, and I am excited to join this staff and build a hockey program from the ground up to their standards,” said McDonald. “Fisher's outstanding academic and athletic programs give us the opportunity to quickly develop and challenge our program into a perennial contender not only at UCHC but nationally. Rochester has a great hockey community, and the addition of men's and women's hockey will only make it stronger.”
