Harvard men's hockey coach announces he will down

Harvard men’s hockey coach Ted Donato will step down from his post at the end of the academic year, the team announced in a statement Thursday. "It is with immense gratitude that I have decided to end my tenure at Harvard as head coach of the Men's Hockey program," Donato said. "I am proud and grateful for all the incredible moments, everlasting memories, and relationships from my 27 years connected to the University as a student-athlete, coach, and parent.

” Donato returned to his alma mater in 2004 to serve as head coach, a position he has held ever since. In December, he became the winningest coach in Harvard men’s hockey history, surpassing his own coach, Bill Cleary, with his 325th victory. During his tenure at Harvard, the Crimson won four ECAC Tournament championships in 2006, 2015, 2017 and 2022.

In 2017, the team also won the regular season championship, won the Beanpot Tournament for the first time in 24 years and reached the Frozen Four for the first time since 1994. Under Donato, Harvard reached the NCAA Tournament eight times but only advanced to the Frozen Four once. The Crimson struggled in the last three seasons, having a losing record in two of them, but going .

500 in the 2025-26 season. Donato was the captain of the Crimson during his playing career and helped the school win their only NCAA Championship in 1989. He was drafted by the Boston Bruins 98th overall in 1987 and would later be named one of the 100 most legendary players of the club in 2023 as the first American-born player to lead the team in goals.