Bill O'Neill (ice hockey)

William O'Neill is an American college men's ice hockey coach. O'Neill has been the head coach at Salem State University since 1981, winning more than 600 games in that time.

Bill O'Neill
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamSalem State
ConferenceMASCAC
Biographical details
BornLynn, Massachusetts, USA
Alma materBoston University
Playing career
1975–1979Boston University
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1979–1981Norwich (assistant)
1981–PresentSalem State
Head coaching record
Overall606–404–76 (.593)
Tournaments6–12–1 (.342)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1985 ECAC 2 East Division Champion
1985 ECAC East Tournament Champion
1994 ECAC East Champion
1994 ECAC East Tournament Champion
1995 ECAC East Tournament Champion
2010 MASCAC Tournament Champion
2014 MASCAC Champion
2014 MASCAC Tournament Champion
2016 MASCAC Champion
2016 MASCAC Tournament Champion
2017 MASCAC Tournament Champion

Career

O'Neill's college career began in 1975 with the Boston University Terriers. After playing in just one game as a freshman, he grew into his role as a depth defensemen and helped BU win the National Championship in 1978. After graduating, O'Neill attended a tryout for the Boston Bruins but, when nothing materialized, he signed on as a graduate assistant at Norwich University.[1]

After two years with the Cadets, O'Neill was named as the head coach at Salem State. He saw a good deal of success in the early part of his tenure, leading the Vikings to five 20-win seasons in the span of ten years and made four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament. After the mid-90's, the program declined slightly; though they routinely posted winning records, the team didn't make any NCAA appearance for almost 20 years. Even when Salem State won the inaugural MASCAC Tournament Championship, the league hadn't yet been given an automatic bid so O'Neill's championship team wasn't invited to participate.

Despite the lack of sustained success in recent years, O'Neill continues to lead the Vikings. Near the end of the 2019 season, O'Neill recorded his 600th victory, becoming just the fourth coach in NCAA history to achieve that feat with one team.[2] When the program cancelled its 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, O'Neill was 12th all-time in wins with 606. At that time he was the longest-tenured coach at any NCAA program and had more wins than any active bench boss at the Division III level.[3] As of 2021, only Jerry York, at Boston College, possesses more wins among active coaches.

Head Coaching Record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Salem State Vikings (ECAC 2) (1981–1985)
1981–82 Salem State 16–14–114–11–114thECAC 2 East Quarterfinals
1982–83 Salem State 17–10–314–8–38thECAC 2 East Semifinals
1983–84 Salem State 13–15–310–11–314thECAC 2 East Quarterfinals
1984–85 Salem State 24–9–018–6–04thNCAA Quarterfinals
Salem State: 70–48–756–36–7
Salem State Vikings (ECAC East) (1985–2009)
1985–86 Salem State 18–9–014–8–04thECAC East Quarterfinals
1986–87 Salem State 22–11–117–9–14thNCAA Quarterfinals
1987–88 Salem State 22–14–018–9–0T–5thECAC East Semifinals
1988–89 Salem State 15–12–011–9–06thECAC East Quarterfinals
1989–90 Salem State 15–11–111–10–17thECAC East Quarterfinals
1990–91 Salem State 21–6–115–5–1T–2ndECAC East Semifinals
1991–92 Salem State 19–10–012–3–03rdNCAA Third Place Game (Win)
1992–93 Salem State 19–8–110–4–15thNCAA Quarterfinals
1993–94 Salem State 23–6–312–3–2T–1stNCAA Third Place Game (Loss)
1994–95 Salem State 18–6–112–5–05thNCAA Quarterfinals
1995–96 Salem State 17–9–114–5–0T–4thECAC East Semifinals
1996–97 Salem State 12–10–28–9–2T–11th
1997–98 Salem State 15–10–211–6–2T–6thECAC East Semifinals
1998–99 Salem State 14–11–17–9–111thECAC East First Round
1999–00 Salem State 15–9–38–7–22ndECAC East Runner-Up
2000–01 Salem State 16–6–410–5–22ndECAC East Semifinals
2001–02 Salem State 15–11–19–9–1T–3rdECAC East Semifinals
2002–03 Salem State 15–9–39–7–34thECAC East Semifinals
2003–04 Salem State 12–11–37–9–24thECAC East Semifinals
2004–05 Salem State 11–12–36–9–35thECAC East Quarterfinals
2005–06 Salem State 11–11–47–8–45thECAC East Quarterfinals
2006–07 Salem State 9–17–05–14–07thECAC East Quarterfinals
2007–08 Salem State 16–11–19–9–1T–5thECAC East Runner-Up
2008–09 Salem State 14–9–210–8–13rdECAC East Quarterfinals
Salem State: 384–239–38252–179–30
Salem State Vikings (MASCAC) (2009–present)
2009–10 Salem State 15–8–411–3–42ndMASCAC Champion
2010–11 Salem State 18–7–211–5–22ndMASCAC Runner-Up
2011–12 Salem State 15–9–311–4–32ndMASCAC Runner-Up
2012–13 Salem State 14–12–110–7–1T–3rdMASCAC Semifinals
2013–14 Salem State 16–10–211–5–2T–1stNCAA First Round
2014–15 Salem State 13–11–39–7–22ndMASCAC Runner-Up
2015–16 Salem State 22–6–016–2–01stNCAA First Round
2016–17 Salem State 15–10–312–4–22ndNCAA First Round
2017–18 Salem State 10–12–56–9–36thMASCAC Semifinals
2018–19 Salem State 10–17–17–11–06thMASCAC Runner-Up
2019–20 Salem State 4–15–74–9–55thMASCAC Quarterfinals
Salem State: 152–117–31108–66–24
Total:606–404–76

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References
  1. "William O'Neill". Salem State Vikings. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  2. "Head Coach Bill O'Neill Earns 600th Career Victory". Salem State Vikings. February 19, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  3. "All-Time Coaching Records". USCHO. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
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