A New Chapter for Harvard Hockey
Rob Rassey has accepted an offer to become the new head coach of Harvard’s men’s ice hockey program, bringing a four‑year stint as an assistant at the University of Michigan to the historic Crimson Hall. Under his guidance the Wolverines reached the Frozen Four three times, underscoring his ability to elevate a program on the national stage.
Rassey’s hockey roots run deep; he played forward for Northeastern University from 2005 to 2009, recording 13 goals and 17 assists in 123 appearances, and he grew up in Shelby Township, Michigan, before returning to the Northeast as a coach.
His appointment follows the resignation of longtime Crimson coach Ted Donato, who stepped down after 22 years at the helm, and comes amid a competitive search that also featured Dartmouth’s assistant Jason Tapp and Niagara’s head coach Jason Lammers.
Rassey first joined Harvard’s staff in 2013‑14, later leaving to work as an NHL scout and in the USHL before returning to Ann Arbor, where his experience helped the Wolverines achieve three Frozen Four appearances.
While the university has not yet issued an official announcement, the move is widely viewed as a strategic step to sustain Harvard’s tradition of competitive play while infusing the program with the experience and connections Rassey has built across the college and professional ranks.