Lichtenberger, Wright step down from ice hockey coaching positions
Posted: 03/07/2012
Mike Lichtenberger, Head Coach of the Ice Hockey A team has decided to step down after 13 years of service to dedicate more time to his personal business pursuits. Mike was named head coach in 1999 and brought with him national recognition as a high level coach with experience in youth, minor and collegiate hockey. Lichtenberger is originally from Buffalo and played minor and junior hockey in Western New York and Southern Ontario. He played for the State University of New York, College at Buffalo [‘81]. Although his position was part time with a modest stipend, Coach Lichtenberger dedicated his life to this sport and to our team. During his tenure, Mike was named “Coach of the Year” twice by the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association during his career at Lehigh.
In 1999, Lichtenberger was certified as a level 5 Master Coach by USA Hockey after submitting his thesis on player development and coaching education. Lichtenberger has been a coach educator for USA Hockey since 1998 and was appointed to the coaching staff of Team USA Selection Camp for the 2005 World University Games. Lichtenberger provided leadership to select committees within the ECHA and ACHA and was also involved at the grassroots level of ice hockey, serving as a board advisor to local organizations and has participated in numerous international coaches meetings throughout the United States, Canada, England and Finland.
Ben Wright, Associate Coach/Faculty Advisor has also made the decision to step away from coaching after 17 years of devoted commitment to the Lehigh University club hockey program. Ben is currently a professor of Religious Studies at Lehigh and will be on sabbatical next year. In 1995, Ben became the first volunteer head coach and in 1999 stepped down to serve as assistant head coach and Faculty Advisor to the club.
Together, Mike and Ben molded these men not only in the Athletic arena, but in the academic classroom as well. This coaching tandem had players selected annually to the ECHA All Star team and had many athletes achieve ACHA Academic All Star status.
We wish Mike and Ben all the best in their future endeavors and appreciate all that they have done for our student athletics over the past seventeen years. We would also like to thank Rich Sause and Bob Whitbeck for their assistance over the past years. A regional search is currently underway for a head coach.