December 22, 2022
Hagwell Announces Retirement as ECAC Commissioner
CHN Staff Report
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. — Steve Hagwell, ECAC commissioner for the past 18 years, has announced his retirement, effective June 2023.
Hagwell, who has been president of the Hockey Commissioners Association for the last 10 years, led the ECAC when it transitioned to a single-sport conference in the mid-2000s. Hagwell also played a key role in the establishment of College Hockey Inc and has represented the league on multiple committees and panels.
“My love for ECAC Hockey is boundless,” Hagwell said, “but as much love as I have for the league, it is the administrators, coaches, student-athletes, staff, on-ice officials and volunteers, to whom I am forever indebted. I thank each and every one for allowing me to serve the greatest league within the NCAA structure for nearly a quarter of a century. It truly has been a blessing beyond anything I ever imagined.”
As the league stated in its press release, "Hagwell is widely recognized in the hockey community as an individual who has devoted himself and his career to advance the interests of college hockey and the “good of the game” in front of any obstacles that might be posed by personal, league, regional or gender agendas." And it's hard to argue with that characterization.
In 2012, Hagwell broke a tie among its 12 member schools by voting to bring the ECAC Tournament back to Lake Placid, where it had been previously from 1992-2002.
On the digital front, Hagwell brokered the multi-year partnership with ESPN, which became the official streaming provider for ECAC Hockey men’s and women’s programs at the start of the 2018-19 season.
Equity and equality between the men’s and women’s programs has been a primary charge of Hagwell’s leadership since becoming the first commissioner of ECAC Hockey after the league moved away from the ECAC and transitioned to a single-sport conference. He is responsible for the creation and development of the league’s current infrastructure that represents the country’s longest-standing women’s league and next year, will become the only conference with both men’s and women’s championship structures featuring 12 teams in each bracket.
“Steve Hagwell represents the best of college athletics,” said former ECAC commissioner Joe Bertagna. “His motives have always been pure and transparent. He was always available to help promote the game, not just his conference. I have had no better friend in my four decades as a college hockey commissioner than Steve Hagwell.”
The ECAC is the only league not to gain or lose members during the great restructuring of conferences that started in 2012-13.
“I have had the opportunity to work closely with Steve on multiple committees through the American Hockey Coaches Association,” said Clarkson coach Casey Jones. “Steve is a respected voice in NCAA hockey circles and has been a tremendous advocate for the ECAC and hockey in general. I wish him nothing but the best going forward.”
Hagwell joined the ECAC in August 1999, and was named Associate Commissioner for men’s hockey in 2000. In that role, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Divisions I and III leagues and served as the liaison to the coaches and athletics administrators in seven leagues. In 2003, he took on the additional responsibility of overseeing the Division I women’s league operations.
“Steve has served ECAC Hockey with unwavering integrity, professionalism, grace and humility,” said Cornell deputy athletic director Anita Brenner. “He is a champion of fair play and has devoted his career to enhancing the student-athlete experience. College hockey is better for Steve's leadership.”
In April 2004, the administrators of the 12 Division I ECAC hockey schools voted to change the structure of the league and make it an independent affiliate of the ECAC with its own governance and operations. Hagwell was named acting commissioner of the newly structured ECAC Hockey League and was given the permanent role in 2005.
Prior to joining the general ECAC staff, Hagwell worked at NCAA headquarters in the public affairs office for more than seven years. At the NCAA, Hagwell was the assistant manager of publishing where he served as liaison to the Men’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee and the NCAA Baseball Research Panel. Before the NCAA, Hagwell, a Michigan Tech graduate, worked at the University of Kentucky, University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse and University of Florida.