HANOVER, N.H. – Earlier this month, Koenig Family Head Coach of Dartmouth Men's Hockey
Reid Cashman announced the hiring of
Byron Pool as the program's new assistant coach.
"I would like to welcome Byron and Kay Pool along with their two children, Harper and Curran, to Dartmouth. Their family will be a tremendous addition to the Upper Valley," Cashman said. "Byron is one the most respected coaches in college hockey. He has been a part of winning cultures at every stop along his coaching career. He brings passion, integrity, and experience to our program. Byron is a developer of talent and I know he will not only make our players better but also our staff."
Pool spent seven seasons as the associate head coach at Northern Michigan. In his first two seasons with the Wildcats, he helped the team earn back-to-back 20-win seasons, the first time it has been done in over a decade. The Wildcats achieved the same feat two years later, going 20-16-1 during the 2021-22 season and 21-17-0 in 22-23, the year that also saw them compete in the CCHA Championship.
The Wildcats also reached the WHCA Semifinals in both of his first two seasons. Under Pool, Northern Michigan has had two All-Americans, four WHCA position of the year honorees, and one player of the year.
Prior to his three-year stint at Northern Michigan, Pool was on the coaching staff of the Fargo Force (USHL), serving as an assistant coach before earning the associate head coach title before the 2014-15 season. During his seven years in Fargo, the Force competed in the Clark Cup playoffs four times and were named the USHL's organization of the year.
Pool also coached the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL) for two seasons, leading them to the Roberston Cup in 2010.
No stranger to ECAC Hockey competition, Pool played collegiate hockey at Colgate, suiting up on defense for 76 games. Following his graduation with a history degree in 2000, Pool spent four years playing professional hockey for the Corpus Christi IceRays and the Indianapolis Ice.