How fitting was it for Bob Emery and Kevin Houle to achieve coaching milestones on the same day and in the same building.
Emery reached 500 career victories as Plattsburgh State men's hockey coach last Saturday at Stafford Arena just hours after Houle had recorded his 200th win as women's coach on the same surface.
The accomplishments came nearly 40 years to the day after the first hockey game was played there.
Emery and Houle go back a long way. They were teammates at Boston College, graduating in 1986. When Emery was thrust into the interim head coaching position at Plattsburgh State in 1989 with the sudden resignation of Steve Hoar, his first order of business was to contact Houle and encourage him to be his assistant.
Almost overnight, they took over a troubled program facing NCAA and SUNYAC sanctions for transgressions committed a few years earlier. They worked through the uncertainty to lead the Cardinals to a 20-5-1 finish and appearance in the national tournament.
But, it was no secret to Cardinal hockey followers that Emery was not the first choice to lead the team into the 1990s. With the team seemingly headed to defeat in Elmira in the ECAC tournament, he and Houle resigned themselves to being elsewhere the following year.
Fortunately for Plattsburgh State, the Cardinals went on to make it to the NCAA tournament that year. The argument for retaining Emery and Houle grew stronger with each subsequent victory. Ultimately, they were rehired and in 1992, rewarded Plattsburgh State with a national championship.
Emery, in his 23rd season, has compiled a record of 500-156-53 and led Plattsburgh to two national championships, 15 NCAA tournament appearances and 13 SUNYAC titles. His career .743 winning percentage is fourth-best in NCAA hockey history across all divisions and his 500 victories rank fourth among active Division III coaches.
Houle has a record of 201-35-16 since taking over as women's head coach in 2003. He led Plattsburgh State to back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008, seven NCAA tournament appearances and two ECAC Women's West championships. He is a three-time American Hockey Coaches Association Coach of the Year. His amazing success ratio of 83 percent is the highest among all men's and women's active coaches across all divisions.
But their measure of success goes well beyond that. They have enhanced Plattsburgh State's image nationally and worked tirelessly for the good of the game.
Emery is a past chairman of the NCAA Division III men's hockey championship committee and has remained active at many levels. Houle has been an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team and participated in three national training camps.
They have reached out to the Plattsburgh community in many instances. Cardinal hockey teams have been involved in numerous charitable activities, most notably through an ongoing partnership with the North Country Down Syndrome Association, which estimates the Cardinals have raised more than $10,000 for its cause.
Not only are Emery and Houle big winners, but the community wins, as well.
