Boston University coach Jack Parker is expected to announce his retirement at a news conference Monday, according to reports.
The news, first reported by ESPN’s John Buccigross on Twitter, comes as the Terriers enter the Hockey East playoffs.
Parker is in his 40th season as head coach at his alma mater. He has an 894-471-115 career record and won national championships in 1978, 1995 and 2009.
The school called a news conference for 3 p.m. EDT Monday at Agganis Arena, where the rink is named for Parker, who will turn 68 on Monday.
Parker ranks third on the all-time coaching wins list, but he has been through his share of turmoil.
Last September, a school task force found a “celebrity culture” existed among BU men’s hockey players, and its report called for the elimination of the executive athletic director position that Parker held.
That task force was assembled after two Terriers players were charged with sexual assault. Corey Trivino pleaded guilty, while charges against Max Nicastro were dropped. Both players were dismissed from the program.
In February, Parker suspended defenseman Alexx Privitera for the rest of the season, citing “on-ice discipline problems.”
Behind the bench, Parker is one of the most accomplished coaches in college hockey history. He trails only Jerry York and Ron Mason on the all-time wins list.
Along with his three national championships, he has won 11 conference titles — four in the ECAC, seven in Hockey East — and led the Terriers to 21 Beanpot crowns.
A three-time winner of the Spencer Penrose Award as the top coach in Division I men’s hockey, Parker was in 2010 given the NHL’s Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
Parker played center for the Terriers from 1966 to 1968, then went right into coaching after graduation. After a year at Medford (Mass.) High School, he joined Boston University as an assistant coach and then the B-team coach.
He took over the top position on Dec. 21, 1973.
The Terriers tied for third place in Hockey East this season and will host Merrimack in the first round of the league playoffs. They are a bubble team in the race for at-large spots to the NCAA tournament.
