A New Era of Player Development
Penn State's men's hockey program announced this week that Alec Marsh will join the staff as Director of Player Personnel & Video, while Derek Avery takes on the role of Director of Operations & Analytics. The moves come as the Nittany Lions look to sharpen both their on‑ice strategy and back‑office efficiency.
Marsh brings a deep personal connection to the program, having suited up for four seasons with the Nittany Lions from 2015 to 2019. He capped his collegiate career by helping Penn State capture its first Big Ten Championship in 2017 and guiding the team to back‑to‑back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 and 2018. Over 132 career games he recorded 22 goals, 32 assists and 54 points.
After turning professional, Marsh spent two seasons in the SPHL and ECHL before concluding his playing days in the United Kingdom with the Coventry Blaze of the EIHL. He then transitioned to coaching, guiding the New Jersey Rockets at the under‑14 and under‑16 levels and leading those squads to the 2024 National Quarterfinals and 2025 National Semifinals. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach at Division III Hobart and William Smith College.
Analytics and Operations Get a Tech Boost
Derek Avery, a recent Penn State graduate with a bachelor's degree in computer science and a minor in statistics, will oversee the program's operational workflow and data‑driven decision making. During his time on campus he worked as a student manager for head coach Guy Gadowsky's team, gaining firsthand experience in roster management and player services.
Avery's professional background includes a stint as team services manager for the Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, where he honed skills in logistics, analytics and stakeholder coordination. His technical expertise is expected to modernize the Nittany Lions' approach to player development and resource allocation.