SALEM — While his father may not be interested in statistics, it's a good thing Andrew O'Neill is.
If not for his oldest son, Salem State University hockey coach Bill O'Neill wouldn't know the next victory he coaches his team to will the 500th of his legendary Vikings' career.
With a 6-1 victory over UMass Dartmouth last night, O'Neill won his 499th career game behind the Salem State bench. He can pick up career triumph No. 500 as early as tomorrow when the Vikings host Plymouth State at the Rockett Arena (2 p.m.) on campus.
"I really don't know how many of the players knew about the 500th coming up; I stumbled upon it at the end of last year and knew he had a pretty good chance to do it this year," said Andrew O'Neill, who played college hockey for his father and is now in his third season as an assistant coach with the team. "We had a bad spell right before (the holiday) break but have gone (7-1-2) since then.
"It'll be a big weight off a lot of people's shoulders when it happens. He'll say it's the players — and it is — but if not for him Salem State is not on the (hockey) map."
Ask O'Neill what approaching the milestone means, and he'll say it just points to the fact that he's been around a long time. But those who know the veteran bench boss best say his success is not due to longevity, but hard work and a keen eye for talent.
Well respected in hockey circles, O'Neill (499-308-54) long ago put the Vikings on the college hockey map during his 31-year tenure — the longest of any Salem State coach ever.
"Bill has provided superior knowledge, aggressive recruiting and class to our hockey program for three decades," said athletic director Tim Shea. "He is a gentleman coach who commands the respect of his players and opposing teams. His influence reaches beyond Rockett Arena and throughout the hockey world. He's been a marvelous representative for Salem State University and will continue to do so for many more seasons."
Nothing but success
A Danvers native, He was only 25 years old in 1981 when then-SSU athletic director John Galaris hired O'Neill to become the third hockey coach in school history, following legends Barry Urbanski and Mike Gilligan. O'Neill quickly proved Galaris made the right choice.
"What a career Bill has had. I'm so proud to call him my friend," said former Vikings Sports Information Director Tom Roundy. "He's such a special guy. I've met a lot of coaches ever since I started tagging along with my Dad (the late Elliot Roundy), and Bill is one of the most humble I've ever met.
"What he has done to keep the tradition going is amazing. In 51 years of hockey at Salem State, there have only been a couple of losing seasons and Bill has never had a rebuilding year. He just kept reloading."
Fourth on the list of active Division 3 college hockey coaches in victories (and sixth in all collegiate divisions), O'Neill has led Salem State to the ECAC tournament 26 teams and won three East titles. Six times the Vikings received bids to the Division 3 NCAA tournament and went to the finals twice.
"When I first started out, the kids here were mostly from East of 128 and maybe one or two from Springfield or other places. We'd get the good ones from Arlington and Medford, but that's all changed now," said O'Neill, a member of the St. John's Prep Hall of Fame (Class of 1974) who was on Boston University's 1978 national championship team.
"We went from (recruiting) the Greater Boston League to Catholic schools, then prep schools, and now Juniors is the big thing. That's so different from what it used to be."
Coaching style
"My Dad is very laid back, but as passionate about the game as anyone I've ever known," said Andrew O'Neill. "He lives and breathes hockey."
Jack Sweeney played for O'Neill for four years and later coached with him for four more. He walked away to do other things before returning for four more years as O'Neill's assistant.
"As a player I didn't necessarily appreciate what he brought to the team," said Sweeney. "I took for granted we had the best players, but as a coach I truly appreciated his talent. Bill is a very intellectual person who can have a thoughtful conversation with anybody about any subject. In the coaching world he's an old timer, but approaches the game with an innovative style, always looking to bring something new to his team."
After O'Neill's 200th career victory it was Sweeney who jumped out on the ice to retrieve the puck; he had a plaque made to commemorate the accomplishment.
Sweeney never ceases to be amazed at how O'Neill could walk into any rink and within five minutes pick out the best players there.
"He has such a great eye for players, and in the recruiting process that's such a plus," said Sweeney. "As far as his personality goes he hasn't changed at all; still as passionate as ever.
"Watching him run a practice is so interesting because he analyzes every single aspect and watches every kid like he's under a microscope. You can play into or out of his good graces by what you bring to practice, and he tells his players that they have an opportunity every day to show him what they can do. It's a nice thing to know that when you go to practice, you can earn a (starting) spot."
Roundy recalled a time in Elmira, N.Y. in 1993 during a pre-game skate when O'Neill got hit with a puck.
"He was cut pretty good, but he was back behind the bench coaching that night," said Roundy. "He's a sportsman, and I can never recall him yelling at officials. That speaks volumes for his character.
"In 1985 we won the ECACs. Babson was the defending champion, and we beat them, 7-1. When you look at Bill's record (.611 winning percentage) you see that he's averaged 15 wins per year. That's incredible."
A family affair
The entire O'Neill clan bleeds Salem State colors. His wife Liz has been by his side from the very beginning, and children Andrew, Rachel and Will (now a senior captain and defenseman at the University of Maine) grew up with the Vikings.
Liz took over the coffee social at all home games and seldom missed any. The only thing that could keep her away was attending her children's games.
"It's great having that kind of support from my family," said O'Neill. "And Salem State is fortunate to have a lot of coaches and administrators here for a long time. It's a great place to work."
As someone who is heavily involved in USA Hockey, O'Neill also coached his younger brother John, who is now the Rockett Arena facilities manager. John and Andrew combined for 200 points in their college careers. He also had his BU roommate John Fox's son, Justin, and college teammate David Fenton's son, Paul.
One person O'Neill wishes were still here when the 500th win happens is the late Vikings trainer Bill Bullock, who traveled with the team and was a big part of the program's success.
John O'Neill credits the coaches his brother worked under early in his career with forming his coaching style.
"He was with Bo Tierney at Bishop Fenwick first, and then with one of the great recruiters, (Marblehead's Donald) "Toot" Cahoon at Norwich," said John O'Neill. "Often Bill is still in his office at 11 p.m. making phone calls, and he and Andrew are always in rinks watching players.
John O'Neil points to his brother's great legacy of former players who are now coaches themselves. Men like Kevin Brown, Brian Seabury, Jason Smith, Jack Sweeney and John Sullivan are just a few of the names who played for the Vikings under O'Neill and now coach their own teams.
"Every year I tell people he's as much, if not more into coaching than ever. Billy's very passionate about the sport and the school," said John O'Neill.
The Bill O'Neill File
Years at Salem State: 31
Overall record: 499-308-54
ECAC tourney appearances: 26
MASCAC titles: 25
Division 3 NCAA bids: 6
NCAA Final Four appearances: 2 (1993, 1994)
ECAC East titles: 3 (1985, 1994, 1995)
