Not only is Jerry York a Hockey Hall of Famer and the winningest coach in college hockey history, but he’s also one of the most well-respected and universally liked individuals in sports.

Coach York spent 50 years behind the bench at three different Division I schools, including 28 seasons at his alma mater, Boston College. He closed his illustrious coaching career with an NCAA record 1,123 victories to go along with five national championships.

He’s one of only three coaches in NCAA history to lead multiple programs to a national title. York lifted Bowling Green’s first national championship in 1984, then brought four titles to Boston College, including three in the span of five years from 2008 to 2012.

York was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019, becoming only the fifth NCAA coach to be inducted, and the first to coach exclusively at the college level. He’s also a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and the BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame.

York grew up with nine siblings in Watertown and attended BC High before a standout hockey career at Boston College. He posted 134 points in his three varsity seasons, leading the Eagles to the 1965 Beanpot and a runner up finish in the NCAA Tournament that same year.