Boston College has received a $5 million gift from an anonymous donor to endow its coaching position, the school announced Tuesday.
The largest gift ever in support of a BC athletics team, the donation pays tribute to head coach Jerry York.
The donor cited a long love for BC hockey, admiration for Jerry York and his leadership, and the commitment that BC has to student-athletes as demonstrated by its high graduation rates as the catalysts for his gift.
“We are most grateful and pleased to announce this magnificent commitment,” said BC director of athletics Gene DeFilippo in a statement. “The donor’s generosity honors Jerry York and the great legacy of men’s ice hockey and its coaches at the Heights and ensures that we will be able to attract great coaches long into the future.”
The gift is also the first coaching endowment received at any Hockey East school.
“I am humbled and honored to lead a program where its alumni care so deeply about our commitment to excellence and developing our student-athletes as men and women for others,” added York. “This gift signals that BC hockey will continue to be competitive for years to come. It is certainly our hope that others will follow this lead and help BC hockey to become fully endowed.”
The gift is credited towards Boston College’s “Light the World Campaign,” which has raised nearly $900 million to date towards its $1.5 billion goal. More than $150 million of this total has been designated to athletics facilities, scholarships and programs.
