Former Providence College Women's Hockey Head Coach, Bob Deraney, has been coaching college hockey for over 20 years. Although he's now coaching men's hockey at Worcester State, during his 19 years coaching the women's team at Providence, Deraney was named the Women's Hockey East Association Coach of the Year three times and has a career coaching record of 302-275-66. He has led Providence to three Hockey East Tournament titles, three additional Hockey East Tournament finals appearances, three Hockey East Regular Season titles, one ECAC Tournament Championship, one NCAA Tournament appearance, and has coached five All-Americans and five Olympians.

Deraney has coached at different levels within USA Hockey including coaching and/or recruiting for the U-18 Women's National Team, the Men's USA Select Team, the Men's U.S. World Junior National Team, and the US Women's National Team.

2aDays: What is the most important quality you look for in a recruit?

Passion, confidence, intelligence, character, and enthusiasm.

2aDays: What is the best way for a recruit to get on your radar?

Call me.

2aDays: When should an athlete contact you, what is the best way? (age, grade, time of year, email, phone, or other)

15, grade 10, July after Freshman year, and by phone.

2aDays: What are your expectations for incoming players in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the ice?

Work hard and do the very best they can in everything they do.

2aDays: What are the do's and don'ts of being recruited?

Be proactive, don't wait for coaches to come to you take control of your recruiting process. Don't break the recruiting rules, follow them.

2aDays: What is the best advice you can offer a recruit?

Be proactive with the schools you are most interested in. Do not hope they come to you, you must engage them.

2aDays: What really jumps out to you when reviewing a recruit's highlight tape?

Their hockey IQ, skating ability, and competition.

2aDays: What are the main do's and don'ts for a recruit's highlight tape?

I want the whole game with their color jersey and number.

2aDays: When do you recommend recruits put together and share their highlight reels? Is it best to make their highlight reel during the offseason, in the middle of the season, or after each game?

Anytime they feel it is a worthwhile performance.

2aDays: What advice do you have for recruits who get turned down by their dream schools? What are their options if they don't gain the recruiting attention they desire?

Go to your next school and make that opportunity what they dream about.

2aDays: How big a factor is social media when recruiting players? What advice do you have for athletes regarding social media?

Social media is very important when you want to find out what a student-athlete is really like. It can help or hurt their recruitment. Be smart on social media because you never know who is watching it.

Have a story idea or know an awesome athlete/coach we should interview? Email us at [email protected]

* Originally published on May 25, 2022, by Bryan Sosoo