Atlantic Hockey Online Spotlight: "A Pearl of Wisdom"

February 18, 2004

Courtesy of Katherine May - Holy Cross Sports Information Department

Coach Paul Pearl and the men’s ice hockey team are off to the program’s best start since 1979-1980. The Crusaders started the season with a six-game winning streak that was snapped by a 2-1 loss to Sacred Heart at the end of November. Holy Cross has bounced back to continue to play strong and show improvement every time out. If you ask the assistant coaches and the players, much of this success can be attributed to the coaching of Paul Pearl.

Pearl is a 1989 graduate of Holy Cross, and was a four year letter winner for the Crusaders before starting his coaching career. During his HC hockey career, Pearl appeared in 125 games and posted 77 points (14 goals and 63 assists). He also was a member of the baseball team for four years, registering a .301 career batting average. This dual athlete returned to become a dual collegiate coach at HC for both baseball and hockey. Pearl returned as head hockey coach from 1994-1996 before taking a year off and returning to take over the position again in 1997. He became head baseball coach in 1999 leading HC into the PL playoffs twice in his three year tenure. In 2002, hockey became Pearl’s priority, after leading his 1999 squad to the MAAC championship.

Pearl knew years ago that coaching was in his future. In high school, his plan was to pursue the teaching and coaching avenue at a high school level. He wanted to be like the many role models that he had when he was in school. But the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level presented itself and he could not turn it down.

“I have the greatest job in the world,” Pearl stated. “It is a dream job to be able to coach college hockey. I am still in a competitive lifestyle and whether you are successful or not, it is kept track of. That makes it fun and challenging.”

While a player at Holy Cross, Pearl served as captain of the 1989 squad. Pearl was a great leader and a focused athlete even then. He was a captain, who commanded respect from everyone, including his coaches.

Associate Athletic Director and former coach to Pearl, Bill Bellerose ‘77, recalls Pearl as always being prepared both mentally and physically.

“He is a born leader,” Bellerose stated. “He was so motivated himself, that he became a great motivator for others.”

The combination of motivation and a passion for the game as well as his passion for coaching make Pearl the unique coach that everyone sees today. Because of these qualities and leadership ability, Bellerose saw coaching was in his captain’s future and he wanted Pearl to become his replacement at Holy Cross.

Coach Pearl is a unique coach, who instills in his players a strong work ethic and demands the kind of commitment he demonstrates to the team. Associate Head Coach Terrence Butt ’95 and Assistant Coach Brian Akashian ’01 each had the opportunity to experience Pearl’s commitment and dedication to building a successful team as a player under Pearl and now as assistants to him.

“What Coach Pearl immediately brought to [the ’95 team] was an intense commitment to the program as a whole,” said Butt. “With that, his attention to detail both on and off the ice provided us with best possible opportunity to succeed.

Like any good coach, Pearl has changed his coaching style over the years to accommodate the changing times and the changes to his team. The move to a Division 1 hockey team brought about changes in play and mindset. The season became two months longer, increasing the need for strong commitment and a unified team.

Pearl’s philosophy of the game and for his team has remained relatively the same. He still stresses the value of commitment and hard work, while he has also spent time trying to make his teams more dynamic on the ice with the ability to win all kinds of games. Of course with any job, challenges arise and change the approaches of the employee, HC hockey is not different. Ice hockey is now a six month sport, requiring more focus and commitment from both the players and the coaches. Coach Akashian has seen changes in Coach Pearl through the lengthening of the season.

“Coach Pearl has realized that because of the tremendous amount of time the coaching staff and players spend together, there needs to be more interaction and exchange of ideas between players and coaches,” Akashian said. “Coach Pearl’s office door is always open and he is extremely approachable to talk about anything.

After the 1999 MAAC championship win, the team faced a few difficult years posting records of 8-24-3 and 8-22-2 over the next two seasons. Akashian described how Coach Pearl continued to give the team 100 percent and taught his players to work through the tough times. Pearl dedicates himself to his team and the improving of the program each year.

“I love the kids here,” Pearl stated. “They are good athletes and students, and I have enjoyed being a part of what they are doing here. I have an intimate knowledge of the school and I like recruiting others to come here.”

Coach Pearl gives his all to the hockey program and to the success of his players. As a coach, Pearl finds it equally as rewarding to see players such as Pat Rissmiller ’02 playing professional hockey or players returning to tell him they have passed the bar exam. It’s the moments such as these that show Pearl’s true dedication to his team and their futures.

Current Crusader captain Greg Kealey ’04 feels that the things Coach Pearl teaches them in practice and in games will help all of them later in life.

“He has instilled in us a good work ethic that can be taken from the rink and used in school work and in life,” stated Kealey. “We have been through a lot as a team in the past few years and have had the chance to look at him not just as a coach.”

In the face of adversity and tragedy, Coach Pearl stood strong for his team. Despite having to deal with his own emotions he made sure his team was doing well and got them back into the game.

“Paul really cares about every person on the team and wants them to succeed,” said Bellerose. “He is one of the most consistent coaches I’ve seen in terms of discipline and how he approaches the game in general.

Pearl’s philosophy is to meet challenges head on, and that is what he has done during his eight seasons as head coach of the Crusaders. His players saw this during the two year stretch following the MAAC Championship and during the emotionally hard times. The extended schedule of playing Division 1 hockey has extended Pearl’s focus and created a balancing act between work and family.

“You just have to make sure you balance everything well,” said Pearl matter-of-factly. “You can get to March and be tired, but everyone works together pretty well to get things done. As for my family, things are more free and easy in the off-season, but they are still young and love the ice, so for now we can make it work.”

Pearl has managed his commitments well and over the years has posted a career record of 132-120-2. Pearl is now the second winningest coach in school history, behind Peter Van Buskirk who racked up 167 career wins in his 10 seasons.

This season is just the beginning of the culmination of Pearl’s hard work and dedication. Off to one of the best starts in school history, the HC men’s ice hockey team is looking towards the future and the possibility of the program’s first ever NCAA berth. With Pearl’s coaching and leadership, if the Crusaders do not achieve the goal this year, the future is just as bright.