Northeastern has announced the first endowed head coaching fund in university history with the creation of the Fernie Flaman Endowed Men’s Hockey Coach Fund.
Jim Madigan, the current Huskies coach, has been named the inaugural holder of the position.
“An endowed head coaching position is something we’ve been working towards for quite some time, and I’m thrilled to see it become a reality,” said Northeastern athletic director Peter Roby in a statement. “This would not be possible without the immense generosity of so many, and I am grateful for their incredible support of our men’s hockey program.
“The name attached to this position, Fernie Flaman, is one synonymous with Northeastern. Our head coach for 19 seasons, he was a tremendous ambassador for our university, and I can’t think of anyone better to hold this title than Jim Madigan. Northeastern holds both of these men in high esteem, and it is my honor to have Jim as the first-ever Fernie Flaman Men’s Hockey Coach at Northeastern.”
Flaman’s legendary coaching career at Northeastern, which spanned 19 seasons and a school-record 255 victories, also produced numerous championships and honors. Flaman led the Huskies to four Beanpot titles in the 1980s (1980, 1984, 1985 and 1988) and guided Northeastern to an ECAC championship (1982), a Hockey East championship (1988) and two NCAA tournament appearances (1982 and 1988).
“Fernie Flaman was a man who I greatly admired, and to have my name associated with his is truly an honor,” added Madigan. “I am so thankful to our university, its development team and the athletic department for its commitment to the men’s hockey program at Northeastern. I am very proud to be the first Fernie Flaman Men’s Hockey Coach, and grateful to everyone who has, through this fund, put our program in a position to succeed for years to come.”
Flaman’s 1981-82 club, Madigan’s freshman season, set the program record for wins in a season (25), which, though tied, has never been surpassed. In 1982, the American Hockey Coaches Association named Flaman national coach of the year after leading the Huskies to the Frozen Four.
Upon retirement from Northeastern, Flaman was inducted into the Northeastern Hall of Fame in 1989.
On May 17, 2012, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation recognized Flaman’s collegiate and professional accomplishments at the Hobey Baker Award banquet in St. Paul, Minn., as the 2012 Hobey Baker Legend of Hockey.
“This is a great day for Northeastern University and the men’s ice hockey program,” said Bill Shea, a philanthropic supporter of the fund. “This will positively impact the program far into the future, and to honor the legacy of Coach Flaman in the process makes this even more special.”
Madigan, a Northeastern alumnus and three-time Beanpot champion, was named Northeastern hockey’s 10th head coach in program history on July 26, 2011, and enters his seventh season in 2017-18. During his tenure, Madigan has led Northeastern to its first Hockey East championship since 1988, first NCAA appearance since 2009, seen 11 of his players drafted by NHL teams and had 33 student-athletes named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team.
As a player at Northeastern, Madigan was a four-year letter-winner under Flaman (1981-85), leading the Huskies to a 67-59-5 record. Madigan was a key contributor to the Huskies’ 1982 Frozen Four run as well as Beanpot championships in 1984 and 1985. In 1998, Madigan was awarded the Friends of NU Hockey Fernie C. Flaman Award, presented annually to a benefactor of Northeastern hockey who has demonstrated the commitment and dedication of Coach Flaman to making NU hockey a success.
