Val Belmonte
Encyclopedia
Val Belmonte is an American
former ice hockey
coach, player and executive. He has also served as a sports official and university athletics director. He played for the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), followed by an 18-year college
coaching career. His longest coaching stint was from 1982-1990 as the Head Coach
of the UIC Flames, during which he won the 1987 CCHA Coach of the Year Award. Belmonte has written several books on the sport of hockey, including several manuals published by USA Hockey
which serves as the National Governing body for the sport in the United States.
in River Grove, Illinois
in 1969, Belmonte attended UIC, where he was member of the varsity team. Belmonte had a severe eye injury that ended his playing career He had eye reattachment surgery after he was checked into the boards of a new rink, that had a nail sticking out of the boards. After his graduation from UIC, Belmonte took up coaching. He was the head coach of Oak Park River Forest High School in 1974-75 which won the 1975 Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois State Varsity Championships (now known as "Blackhawk Cup")).
Belmonte coached college hockey from 1975 to 1990 with the University of North Dakota
, Harvard University
and the University of Illinois-Chicago. He led the UIC Flames to six Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoff appearances as the head coach and was named CCHA Coach of the Year in 1986-87. Belmonte coached several players who played in the NHL, including Shawn Cronin
, Ray Stazek, and long time minor league star Colin Chin. Belmonte also coached Jeff Nelson
, who went on to represent the United States in the World Cup of Inline hockey
. As an assistant at Harvard University, he coached Hobey Baker Award
winners Mark and Scott Fusco.
From 1991 until 2000, Belmonte was Director of Coaching at USA Hockey, Inc. in Colorado Springs. From 2000-2004, Belmonte took over as Athletic Director of Union College. In his tenure, Union rebuilt many of their athletic facilities including a state of the art football field and field house. During his years at Union College
, Belmonte served on the executive comm. for the ECAC
, and was involving in the breaking away of the ECAC to form a subsidiary, the ECACHL.
After Union College, Belmonte was Executive Director
of the United States Figure Skating Association
for a year, before being named Vice President of Athletic Marketing and External Affairs Quinnipiac University
in 2006. In 2009, Belmonte left Quinnipiac to become executive vice-president at DHR International's Chicago office.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
coach, player and executive. He has also served as a sports official and university athletics director. He played for the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), followed by an 18-year college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
coaching career. His longest coaching stint was from 1982-1990 as the Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the UIC Flames, during which he won the 1987 CCHA Coach of the Year Award. Belmonte has written several books on the sport of hockey, including several manuals published by USA Hockey
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
which serves as the National Governing body for the sport in the United States.
Career
After graduating from the now defunct Holy Cross High SchoolHoly Cross High School (River Grove)
Holy Cross High School was an all-boys, Roman Catholic high school in River Grove, Illinois, USA that operated from August 1961 until June 2004. In December, 2003, the school announced that they no longer had enough funding or interest in enrollment to continue. Only 79 students took the entrance...
in River Grove, Illinois
River Grove, Illinois
River Grove is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,668 at the 2000 census.-Geography:River Grove is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of ....
in 1969, Belmonte attended UIC, where he was member of the varsity team. Belmonte had a severe eye injury that ended his playing career He had eye reattachment surgery after he was checked into the boards of a new rink, that had a nail sticking out of the boards. After his graduation from UIC, Belmonte took up coaching. He was the head coach of Oak Park River Forest High School in 1974-75 which won the 1975 Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois State Varsity Championships (now known as "Blackhawk Cup")).
Belmonte coached college hockey from 1975 to 1990 with the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and the University of Illinois-Chicago. He led the UIC Flames to six Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoff appearances as the head coach and was named CCHA Coach of the Year in 1986-87. Belmonte coached several players who played in the NHL, including Shawn Cronin
Shawn Cronin
Shawn P. Cronin is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks.-Playing career:...
, Ray Stazek, and long time minor league star Colin Chin. Belmonte also coached Jeff Nelson
Jeff Nelson (hockey)
Jeffrey A. C. Nelson is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League.-Playing Career:...
, who went on to represent the United States in the World Cup of Inline hockey
Inline hockey
Inline hockey, often referred to as roller hockey in the United States, is a sport similar to ice hockey but played with inline skates. Like its parent sport, skaters on two teams use hockey sticks to direct a disk-shaped puck into the opponent's goal; however, various details of the game, such as...
. As an assistant at Harvard University, he coached Hobey Baker Award
Hobey Baker Award
The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player.It is named for hockey player and World War I veteran Hobey Baker, who played collegiately at Princeton University and learned the game at St...
winners Mark and Scott Fusco.
From 1991 until 2000, Belmonte was Director of Coaching at USA Hockey, Inc. in Colorado Springs. From 2000-2004, Belmonte took over as Athletic Director of Union College. In his tenure, Union rebuilt many of their athletic facilities including a state of the art football field and field house. During his years at Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
, Belmonte served on the executive comm. for the ECAC
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
, and was involving in the breaking away of the ECAC to form a subsidiary, the ECACHL.
After Union College, Belmonte was Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the United States Figure Skating Association
United States Figure Skating Association
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating on ice in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic Committee "USOC" under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating...
for a year, before being named Vice President of Athletic Marketing and External Affairs Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
in 2006. In 2009, Belmonte left Quinnipiac to become executive vice-president at DHR International's Chicago office.
Awards
- 1987 - CCHA Coach of the Year Award
- 2007 - Belmonte was inducted into the IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Hockey Hall of Fame.