HHeadead CCoachoach FFrankrank SSerratoreerratore

A short conversation with coach Frank In his first season at the Academy, Serratore’s disciplined and aggressive Serratore makes your pulse race a little style produced more wins than the previous two seasons combined and the faster. His enthusiasm and energy for Air first 15-win season in three years. The first-year coach guided the Falcons to a Force hockey are that powerful. 15-19 overall record. The season could not have ended on a better note as the As the fourth head coach in the 44 years Falcons swept Army at West Point. of Air Force hockey, Serratore was in his His second season was no different as he guided one of the nation’s young- office less than a week when he pointed est teams to the best winning percentage in four years at the Academy. In out what it would take to turn the program 1999-2000, Serratore led the Falcons to the most wins (19) in 23 years and the around. first winning season (19-18-2) in 10 years. Serratore juggled an injury-riddled “We want to be the hardest working team and depleted Falcon lineup throughout the 2000-01 season. The Falcons still in the country,” Serratore said. “We want to posted a 16-17-4 record. have a team full of over-achievers. Not ev- A great run at the end of the 2001-02 season capped a 16-16-2 overall re- eryone is blessed with outstanding ability, cord. The Falcons finished fifth in the CHA (6-10-2) and upset fourth-seeded but everyone can work hard and play with pride and spirit.” Niagara in the CHA Tournament. In 2002-03, a midseason scoring drought and Serratore enters his 16th season at Air Force with a 255-250-51 record at the numerous close losses left the Falcons with a 10-24-3 overall record. Expecta- Academy. He has an overall mark of 304-342-60 in 19 seasons as a college tions were low as the Falcons were in a rebuilding mode in 2003-04. However, head coach. Serratore led the Falcons to a 14-21-2 record, tying the then-school record Not only has Serratore turned the Falcon program around, he has turned it with 14 Division I wins. The Falcons also defeated two teams that went to the into a legitimate national contender with five conference championships and NCAA Tournament (Miami-Ohio and Holy Cross). five NCAA appearances in the last six years. Serratore, 55, came to the Academy from the of the Inter- Last season, the Falcons won their second straight AHA title, and fifth in the , where he was the director of hockey operations in last six years, as the team finished the season with a 21-11-7 overall record. 1996. He was the head coach and general manager of the The Falcons won their first outright AHA regular-season title with a 15-6-6 (before they moved to Manitoba) in 1994 and 1995. league record. Midway through the season, Air Force posted a five-game win- Prior to his position in Manitoba, Serratore was the head coach at the Uni- ning streak which included a 2-1 win at fifth-ranked Colorado College, the first versity of Denver from 1990-1994. During that time, he led the Pioneers to ever win at the World Arena. After a 4-0 win over second-seeded RIT in the a 49-91-9 record in four seasons and is credited with rebuilding a struggling AHA title game, the season came to an end with a 2-0 loss to top-ranked Bos- Pioneer program. In 1995 and 1997, Pioneer teams which were recruited dur- ton College, the eventual NCAA national champion, in the Northeast Regional. ing his tenure made two NCAA final eight appearances and placed third in the In 2010-11, the Falcons recovered from a slow start to win its fourth AHA WCHA. title in five years. The Falcons went 9-2-3 in the final 14 regular season games Before taking over the reins at DU, Serratore was the coach and general to earn the No. 2 overall seed. Air Force blanked the regular-season champion, manager of the of the United States Junior Hockey League. In RIT, 1-0, in the championship game. A 2-1 overtime loss to top-seed Yale in one season, he took over a last-place team and led them to the USHL regular the NCAA Tournament ended the Falcons’ season at 20-12-6. season and playoff championship. The worst-to-first Cinderella season earned The 2009-10 season was the only one in the last six years that the Falcons Serratore the USHL General Manager of the Year and the Omaha Sportscast- watched the NCAA Tournament at home. The Falcons swept Army in the ers Sportsman of the Year awards in 1990. AHA quarterfinals at home but fell on a late goal to Sacred Heart in the AHA His other coaching experiences have been as the assistant coach at the semifinals. AFA finished the season 16-15-6 overall and third in the AHA. University of North Dakota (1987-89), the head coach and general manager The 2008-09 season proved to be the best in school history with a school- of the Rochester Mustangs (1985-87) and the Austin Mavericks (1983-85) of record 28 wins, another league championship and the Academy’s first-ever the U.S. Junior Hockey League. During his tenure in the USHL, he won three NCAA Tournament victory. Air Force opened the season with a school-record league championships and was runner-up twice while posting a 247-103-6 13 straight wins and rose to No. 10 in the nation, the highest in Academy his- record. In 1987, he led Rochester to the USA Hockey national championship. tory. Win No. 13 was a 4-1 win over third-ranked Colorado College to end While coaching in the USHL, he was named general manager of the year twice a 24-year drought vs. the Tigers. As the No. 1 seed in the AHA Final Four, and coach of the year once. AFA rolled over Bentley and Mercyhurst with back-to-back shutouts to win Serratore attended Western Michigan University from 1977-79 before earn- its third straight title. The first round of the NCAA East Regional put the Fal- ing his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Bemidji State University cons against third-ranked Michigan. Andrew Volkening made 43 saves as the in 1982. He lettered four years in hockey at the two schools playing goalie. Falcons earned a 2-0 win. Air Force came within a whisker of the Frozen Four, He then earned a master’s degree in athletic administration/physical education but 10th-ranked Vermont defeated Air Force in double overtime on a goal that from North Dakota in 1994. He played two seasons for the St. Paul Vulcans was awarded on video review. (USHL) from 1975-77 and had a brief stint with the Nashville South Stars Serratore led Air Force to 21 wins in 2007-08 en route to the second (Central Hockey League) in 1982. AHA championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Air Force was 21-12-6 The native of Coleraine, Minn., is no stranger to coaching at the Olympic de- overall and finished third in the league. At the AHA Final Five, AFA defeated velopment level. In August 2003, Serratore was the head coach of the United RIT, 5-0, in the semifinals. The Falcons then needed double-overtime to beat States Under-17 Team that won the gold medal at the Five Nations Tourna- Mercyhurst, 5-4, in the championship game on a goal by Josh Frider. The win ment in Prievizda, Slovakia. He has coached at two USA Hockey Olympic sent the Falcons to the NCAA Tournament but second-ranked Miami-Ohio Sports Festivals and has been the coach of the USA Hockey Development ended the Falcons’ season with a 3-2 overtime loss. Program since 1985. In 1993, he coached the West team to the silver medal at In 2006-07, Air Force won its first-ever conference championship and trip the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival in San Antonio, Texas. to the NCAA Tournament. AFA faced Minnesota in the West Regional, the Serratore is married to the former Carol Samec of St. Paul, Minn. They have overall No. 1 seed in the tournament, and led the Gophers, 3-1, with just over four children, twin boys Thomas and Timothy (23) and two daughters, Carly eight minutes left in the third period. However, Minnesota scored three goals (22) and Carina (17). in a span of 3:36 for a 4-3 win over the Falcons. AFA ended the season with a 19-16-5 overall record and a 13-10-5 mark for fifth place in the AHA. The Fal- cons became the first service academy team to ever win a conference hockey championship and play in the NCAA Tournament. 2011-122012-13 Air Force Hockey - Page 10 HHeadead CCoachoach FFrankrank SSerratoreerratore

Q: Air Force was picked to win the conference by the league’s coaches. Does that put added expectations on the team? Do you feel it is a curse”

A: We have been picked to win the league before and we went out and won it. It hasn’t been a curse before and there is no reason it has to be now. Our expectations are to finish as high as we can in the regular season, play our best hockey in Febru- ary and March, win the playoffs, go to the NCAA Tournament and knock some- body off this year. I’m not afraid to say that. Being picked to win the league shows what other people think of us. We think of ourselves that same way. Being picked first should only strengthen our confidence and fuel our motivation. This is not our first rodeo, we know how tough it is to win at this level. We know how competi- tive our league is, and with that, we learned a long time ago not take any opponent lightly. When the dust settles, we expect to be right in the thick of things.

Q: Recruiting has always been a top priority for you and your staff. What chal- lenges are involved with recruiting at the Academy?

A: Recruiting is selling and good salesmen believe in the product they are sell- ing. I believe this philosophy has allowed our staff to do a fine job in recruiting good hockey players to the Air Force Academy. Recruiting at the Division I level has become increasingly difficult over the last several years. There are more college hockey teams now than ever before. The challenges at the Academy are many. When I was at Denver, we were limited to 18 scholarships and it cost over $25,000 (now nearly $50,000) a year to attend school. Here at the Academy, we don’t have the scholarship limitations, but we have different kinds of obstacles to overcome. Aside from the high academic standards set forth by the Academy, our biggest challenge on the recruiting trail is overcoming the perceptions and misinformation that exists about the service academies and the military. We have found that once we identify the right type of prospects, it is important to get into their homes. After educating the prospects and their parents on the Academy, the response is usually tremendous. Recruiting here is not a “sell” job like at most Q: What type of player are you looking to bring to Air Force? schools; our approach is to educate and present all the facts to a prospect. The opportunities offered at the Academy and afterwards are unlike anywhere in the A: The type of player we are looking for is the classic overachiever; good stu- country. When I first arrived at the Academy, I thought the post-graduation com- dent, good athlete and outstanding citizen. Most of the young men we recruit mitment would be a deterrent. I have found that to be just the opposite. The word possess the foresight and maturity to see the “big picture” and where they can be “commitment,” in this context, has a somewhat negative connotation. A more ac- five or 10 years down the road. Finding good players for our program is a tough curate way to refer to this portion of our package is post-graduate “opportunity,” job, but a job that can be done. The fine young men in our locker room are living because this is what it is. The post-graduation opportunity has actually helped our proof. recruiting. Once educated, our recruits and their parents view the commitment as a positive rather than a negative. The career and educational opportunities available Q: Cadet-athletes schedules are so demanding with academics and military life to our kids after graduation are astounding. It’s merely a matter of how you choose as well as practice, travel and games. How is the coaching staff able to maintain to approach the commitment, as an anchor or a springboard. One needs only take a the balance between athletics and Academy life? look at the success of our graduates to know that it’s truly a springboard. A: Our guys are first and foremost cadets. Hockey is certainly a big part of their lives and has been since they were little kids in most cases. However, they came to the Academy to develop their leadership skills so they can go out and be a key part of our Air Force. They only play hockey here for four years and then our guys are out doing some great things in the Air Force. They are serving and defending our country and it is an honor to have played a small role in their development while they are here. They have to take care of business in their squadron and in the classroom or they won’t see the ice. It’s that simple. We have some tremendous young men and it is amazing how they can accomplish everything they do. Our guys take great pride in their academics as well. We have a fantastic support staff that helps with this process as well. We have an academic mentoring program that has kept our cadet- athletes ahead of the game by not allowing them to fall behind. The academic, athletic and military demands on our cadet-athletes are incredible. Nowhere, and I mean nowhere, are student-athletes challenged like they are at the service academies. Our athletes carry 20 or more credit hours, participate in athletics and are required to perform a host of military duties. I am often asked the question, how do you inspire your athletes ... my response is simple, my athletes inspire me!

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The Serratore File Serratore vs. Opponents Coaching Experience Ala.-Huntsville 10-25-2 Mich. Tech 4-11-1 Head Coach - Air Force Academy (1997-Pres.); record 255-250-51 AK-Anchorage 4-6 Minnesota 2-13-3 Head Coach - Minnesota Moose [IHL] (1994-95); 52-56-16 AK-Fairbanks 3-6 Minn.-Crookston 1-0 American Internat’l 21-1-1 Minn.-Duluth 6-10-1 Head Coach - University of Denver (1990-94); 49-92-9 Army 21-11-3 Nebraska-Omaha 1-5 Head Coach - Omaha (Neb.) Lancers [USHL] (1990); 49-13-0 Augsburg 5-0 New England Coll. 2-0 Assistant Coach - University of North Dakota (1987-89) Bemidji State 8-25-2 Niagara 12-28-4 Head Coach - Rochester (Minn.) Mustangs [USHL] (1985-87); 89-34-2 Bentley 21-7-4 Northeastern 1-1 Head Coach - Austin (Minn.) Mavericks [USHL] (1982-85); 109-56-4 Boston College 1-2 North Dakota 8-9 Boston University 0-3 Northern Mich. 1-15 Canisius 7-5-6 Notre Dame 1-1 Collegiate Coaching Record Clarkson 1-0-0 Princeton 1-0 1990-91 6-30-2 Denver Colgate 0-1 Providence 0-2 Colorado College 8-21-2 Quinnipiac 6-4 1991-92 9-25-2 Denver Concordia 3-1 RIT 15-12-4 1992-93 19-17-2 Denver Connecticut 16-4-4 Robert Morris 8-8 1993-94 15-20-3 Denver Dartmouth 0-1 RPI 1-0 1997-98 15-19-0 Air Force Academy Denver 1-12 Sacred Heart 17-7-3 1998-99 15-19-2 Air Force Academy Fairfield 6-1 St. Cloud State 6-9-1 Ferris State 0-1 St. John’s 2-0 1999-00 19-18-2 Air Force Academy Findlay 10-11-1 St. Mary’s 2-1 2000-01 16-17-4 Air Force Academy Holy Cross 17-6-8 St. Michael’s 1-0 2001-02 16-16-2 Air Force Academy Iona 0-1-1 St. Olaf 2-0 2002-03 10-24-3 Air Force Academy Maine 0-3 St. Thomas 1-1 2003-04 14-21-2 Air Force Academy Manhattanville 1-0 Salem State 1-0 Mankato State 0-7 SUNY-Potsdam 1-0-1 2004-05 14-19-3 Air Force Academy Massachusetts 1-2 Union 1-0-0 2005-06 11-20-1 Air Force Academy Mass.-Lowell 0-1 Vermont 0-1 2006-07 19-16-5 Air Force Academy Mercyhurst 9-10-2 Wayne State 11-13-1 2007-08 21-12-5 Air Force Academy Merrimack 0-1 Wisconsin 4-9-1 2008-09 28-11-2 Air Force Academy Miami (OH) 1-2 Wis.-Stout 3-0 Michigan 1-0 Yale 2-3 2009-10 16-15-6 Air Force Academy Michigan State 0-1 2010-11 20-12-6 Air Force Academy 2011-12 21-11-7 Air Force Academy AFA 255-250-51 (15 years) By the Numbers Career 304-342-60 (19 years) 1 Elite Eight Appearance 2 Hobey Baker Finalists 4 All-Americans 5 NCAA Tournament Appearances 6 Straight winning seasons vs. all-Division I teams; school record 7 AHA Championships (5 tournament; 2 regular season) 7 Division I Tournament championships 12 Road wins in 2008-09; school record 21 AHA Tournament wins (21-3 record) 21 Wins over Army, including two in the 2010 AHA Quarterfinals 28 School record number of wins in 2008-09 70 Percent of home games won by Air Force the last three years

105 percent of capacity at Cadet Ice Arena that AFA has averaged the last four years

2011-122012-13 Air Force Hockey - Page 12 AAssociatessociate HeadHead CoachCoach MikeMike CorbettCorbett

Mike Corbett is in his 10th season at the Air Force Academy. After nine seasons as an assis- The Corbett File tant hockey coach at the Academy, Corbett was Year at Air Force: 10th promoted to associate head coach in the spring of Collegiate Career Year: 10th 2012. Hometown: Green Bay, WI Corbett works with the Falcon defensemen Alma Mater: Denver and also assists with the nation-wide recruiting ef- Year 1996 fort. Corbett has guided a group that has shattered the school records for goals allowed per game in 2006-07, 2007-08 and again in 2008-09. Under Coaching Experience his direction, the Falcons have been among the Butte Irish (AWHL) 1997-00 nation’s leaders in fewest shots allowed per game each of the last six years. Head Coach Billings Bulls (AWHL) 2000-01 A 1996 graduate of the University of Den- ver, Corbett was a three-year letterman for the Head Coach Pioneers as a defenseman. Frank Serratore recruited Corbett to the Mile High city and Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) 2001-02 coached him in the 1993-94 season. Corbett majored in management and minored in Associate Head Coach marketing. In 1998, he earned a master’s of science in management from DU. Air Force Academy (AHA) 2003-12 Corbett was an assistant captain from 1995-97 and was named the team’s most in- Assistant Coach spirational player in 1997. A three-time academic all-conference selection, Corbett was Air Force Academy (AHA) 2012-Present a finalist for the prestigious College Hockey Humanitarian Award. Associate Head Coach After completing his eligibility, Corbett was a graduate assistant in the DU athletic department for a year and also worked in the Daniels College of Business. While at DU, Corbett spent a season working with the Colorado Avalanche as a community re- lations intern and as a statistician/video assistant for head coach Mark Crawford. Playing Experience From 1997-00, Corbett was the head coach of the Butte (Mont.) Irish in the Amer- Defenseman ica West Junior Hockey League. Corbett also served as general manager and director University of Denver (WCHA) 1993-97 and head instructor of the Irish Hockey Camp. Corbett led the Irish to a 79-78-9 record and was named the AWHL Coach of the Year in 1997-98. He managed and executed all phases of the business and hockey operations and also recruited and evaluated all prospects. Corbett moved across the state of Montana in 2000, taking over the Billings Bulls of the AWHL. The Bulls posted a 36-23-1 record in the 2000-01 season and advanced to the finals of the AWHL playoffs. Corbett was also the director of hockey operations with the club. Six players from that team went on to play at Division I institutions. Corbett was the associate head coach with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the U.S. Hockey League in 2001-02. He coached all players, with an emphasis on the defensemen, and helped lead the team to a 35-21-5 record. Corbett moved to Colorado Springs in 2002 as the Director of the Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association. In that position, he managed 52 youth teams and 150 coaches at all levels. As the head coach of the Pikes Peak Miners Midget “AAA” team, he achieved three major midget “AAA” tournament finals and one championship. He led the Miners to a 33-28-3 record. Corbett and his wife, Stacey, have two children, Jordan (22) and Mayson (17).

SERRATORE ON CORBETT Mike is what we refer to in the busi- ness as “a good hockey man.” He brings an extensive resume and a wealth of experience to our staff. Mike played for me at Denver and was a team captain. He possesses a very calm demeanor and his coaching style is very direct and professional. Mike’s greatest strength as a coach is that he does not possess a weakness and his veteran presence is very valuable to our coaching staff.

2011-122012-13 Air Force Hockey - Page 13 AAssistantssistant CCoachoach AAndyndy BBergerg

Andy Berg enters his seventh season as an assistant coach and his eighth season overall with The Berg File the Falcon coaching staff. A 2003 graduate of the Year at Air Force: 7th Academy, Berg, who served as a graduate assis- Collegiate Career Year: 8th tant in 2003-04, assists with coaching on the ice Hometown: Stillwater, MN and also with the nation-wide recruiting effort. Alma Mater: Air Force Berg separated from the Air Force in the summer Year 2003 of 2010 after seven years of active duty. A native of Stillwater, Minn., Berg gradu- ated from the Academy with a degree in manage- Coaching Experience ment and was a four-year letterman at forward. Air Force Academy 2003-04 A two-time all-CHA selection, Berg finished his Graduate Assistant career tied for 12th in scoring with 142 points (64-78-142) in 140 games. As a senior, he earned Air Force Academy 2006-Present the Award as the team’s most valu- Assistant Coach able player. He led the team and was second in the CHA with 22 goals and was fourth in the league with 40 points. His 15 power-play Playing Experience goals led the CHA and were second in the nation. Berg’s 15 power-play goals in 2002-03 tied the school record set by Mark Forward Manney in 1981-82. His 33 career power-play goals are the third most in school Air Force Academy 2000-03 history. Columbia Inferno (ECHL) 2005 A three-sport star at Stillwater (Minn.) High School, Berg earned more CHA awards than any other Falcon with five major awards. He was named the CHA Rookie of the Year in the league’s first season and was also named to the all-rookie team. He was a second-team all-conference selection as a sophomore and senior and was named to the CHA all-tournament team as a junior. Berg is one of only two Falcons to earn CHA all-tournament honors. A two-year team captain, Berg led the team in points and goals twice. As a sophomore, he had 16 goals and 37 points and as a senior he had 22 goals and 40 points. During his four-year career, he helped the team to 61 wins. During his first three seasons, the Falcons were a .500 team, posting a 51- 51-8 record. The Falcons won 19 games his freshman year and finished with a winning record (19-18-2) for the first time in 11 years. He then helped the Falcons to consecutive 16-win seasons in 2000-01 and 2001-02. After spending the 2003-04 season with the hockey team as a graduate assistant, Berg’s first assignment was with the 20th Contract- ing Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Berg served as the deputy flight commander for the services element and was named the com- pany grade officer of the year for 2005. While at Shaw, Berg played 50 games for the Columbia Inferno of the East Coast Hockey League. Berg, and his wife, Lauren, an assistant coach on the diving team, re- side in Palmer Lake.

SERRATORE ON BERG Andy played for me at Air Force and was a team captain. He is one of only two players in school history to garner league honors for four con- secutive years. Andy is a student of the game and is extremely passionate about coaching; this combination has enabled him to make a very smooth transition from playing to coaching. Andy possesses an excellent eye for talent and his youthful perspective is very valuable to our coaching staff.

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ERIK MARSH ROBERT RUSH EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST HOCKEY ATHLETIC TRAINER Robert Rush is in his 12th season with the Erik Marsh is in his 19th season as the Falcon hockey team and is in his 16th year at athletic trainer for the Falcon hockey team, and the Academy. Rush’s responsibilities with the 26th year overall in the athletic training career hockey team are sharpening skates, ordering field. Athletic trainers provide expertise in the equipment and supplies, equipment issue, repair areas of prevention, recognition, treatment and and maintenance. rehabilitation of athletic injuries. In the summer of 2011, he earned a silver medal with the 2011 USA Marsh has been active with USA Hockey the last several years. In Hockey In-Line team at the World Championships in Pardubice, Czech Re- 2011, he went to Pardubice, Czech Republic, with the USA In-line team public. In the summer of 2010, he worked with two USA Hockey teams in that won the silver medal at the World Championships. In the summer international competition. He travelled to Karlstad, Sweden, with the In-Line of 2010, he traveled to Karlstad, Sweden, with the USA In-Line World team, earning a gold medal at the World Championships in July. In Au- Championship team that won the gold medal. In 2009, he travelled with gust, he travelled to Breclav, Czech Republic, with the Under-18 Select Ice the In-Line team to the World Championships in Ingolstadt, Germany, Hockey team, earning a silver medal. In 2009, he travelled with the USA In- and earned a silver medal. In 2001, he travelled with the United States Line team for the World Championships in Ingolstadt, Germany, and earned Select-17 Hockey Team at the Germany Competition, in Fussen, Ger- a silver medal. In the summer of 2008, he traveled to Bratislava, Slovakia, many. That team featured many future NHL players including: Nate with USA Hockey to work the 2008 InLine Hockey World Championships. Thomson, Ben Lovejoy, Dustin Smith and Zach Parise. A 1992 graduate of Delta State in his hometown of Cleveland, Miss., Marsh came to the Academy in 1994 after serving as an assistant Rush earned a bachelor’s degree in education. While a student and gradu- trainer at Army for one year working with the 150-pound football team ate assistant at Delta State, Rush worked as an equipment manager with and gymnastics. Marsh spent five years as a student trainer at Iowa State the football and baseball teams. After graduation, he spent three years as and two years as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma, where he worked the head equipment manager at Southeast Missouri State working with the with the football, wrestling and baseball teams. football, basketball and baseball teams. The native of Parker, Colo., earned a bachelor’s degree in physical Rush came to the Academy in 1997 and worked with the junior var- education/sports medicine from Iowa State in 1991. While at ISU, he sity football team his first season. In 1998, he began working and travel- played for the Cyclone lacrosse team as an attackman. He then earned his ing with the varsity football team. In 1999, he added baseball to his list of master’s degree in sports management from Oklahoma in 1993. duties and became the first full-time equipment specialist for the Falcons A 1986 graduate of Ponderosa High School in Parker, Marsh lives in many years. in Palmer Lake. In August 2006, Marsh finished the Pikes Peak Ascent, Rush, and his wife, Shelly, met at Southeast Missouri State and were a 13-mile run to the top of Colorado’s famous mountain. The ascent has married in May 1997. The couple resides in Colorado Springs with their a vertical climb of more than 7,800 feet to the summit at an elevation of son, Andrew (12), and dogs, Gabbie and Whiskey. 14,110 feet above sea level. Marsh also enjoys fishing and playing the guitar. In 2011, Marsh and teammate Tim Harris finished sixth out of 50 boats in the Johnson Lake (Nebraska) Walleye open tournament.

Air Force equipment specialist Robert Rush (far left) and athletic trainer Erik Marsh (second from left) earned a gold medal at the USA In-Line World Championships in 2010 in Karlstad, Sweden. The duo also traveled to Bratislava, Slovakia, in June 2008 and In- golsted, Germany, in 2009 earning the silver medal. 2011-122012-13 Air Force Hockey - Page 15 SSupportupport SStafftaff

M AJ. RYAN SMITH L T. COL. VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT KY KOBAYASHI Maj. Ryan Smith is serving as a volunteer as- TEAM PHYSICIAN sistant coach with the Falcons this season. Lt. Col. Ky Kobayashi enters his fourth A 2002 USAFA graduate, Smith is currently season as the team physician for the Falcon the chief of standardization and evaluation for the hockey program. Team doctors are assigned to 557 Flying Training Squadron at the Academy. the Academy hospital and volunteer their time to A four-year hockey letterman as a defenseman work with the athletic teams. The time and effort they put into athletics is under coach Frank Serratore from 1999-02, Smith played in 104 games and greatly appreciated. had 14 points on two goals and 12 assists. Kobayashi oversees all medical treatment for the team and travels with After graduation, Smith completed undergraduate pilot training at the club on selected trips. He is currently a staff orthopedic surgeon at the Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas and later completed specialized training in U.S. Air Force Academy hospital. the KC-135R aircraft. Prior to his current assignment, he served as opera- Kobayashi is a 1991 distinguished graduate of the Academy who let- tions group executive officer, 97th Operations Group at Altus Air Force tered in baseball in 1988 and wrestling in 1990. He was a Western Athletic Base, Okla. As executive officer, he assisted the group commander in Conference scholar-athlete in 1990. After graduating from the Academy, providing all administrative and training support to over 2,600 active duty, he was an Alpha Omega Alpha graduate at the University of Colorado guard, reserve and international C-17 and KC-135 students annually at the Medical Center in 1995 and spent a year in general surgery at the David Air Education and Training Command’s Air Mobility Training Center. He Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, Calif. After two years as a flight previously served as flight commander of current operations, 97 Operations surgeon at Grand Forks AFB, N.D., he completed orthopedic surgery resi- Support Squadron, where he managed the execution of over 7,000 strategic dency at the University of Connecticut in 2002 and fellowship training in airlift and tanker missions valued at $410 million. He has deployed nine Boston, MA in 2003. He was the chief of hand surgery at Keesler Medical times in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Center, Miss., from 2003-05 and at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Texas, Smith’s father, Barry Smith, enjoyed a long career as an assistant and 2006-08. In 2007, he was the assistant professor of surgery at the Uni- associate coach in the NHL, earning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh formed Services University of the Health Sciences. Penguins (1991 and 1992) and three with the Detroit Red Wings (1997, Originally from Sterling, Colo., Kobayashi and his wife, Michelle, 1998 and 2002). He is currently the director of player development for the have two children, Maya and Max, and live in Colorado Springs. Chicago Blackhawks. A senior pilot with more than 3,500 hours in the T-37B, T-1A, KC- 135R, T-52A, MC-12W, T-53A, Smith is married to Capt. Leah Smith of Shelbyville, Ky. They have a daughter, Sailor (2).

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JEFF KIPP HOLLY GREEN STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING OFFICE MANAGER Jeff Kipp came to the Air Force Academy as an Holly Green is in her second year as the assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2004. office manager for the Falcon hockey team. His primary responsibility is the supervision of all Her skills are shared with the volleyball team, aspects of the speed, strength and conditioning pro- as she manages both offices. gram for the Air Force hockey team. Green spent nine seasons as an assistant His duties at the Academy have also included women’s basketball coach from 2001-10. Prior speed development for the football team, as well as serving as the primary to coming to Air Force, Green spent three years as a volunteer coach at strength and conditioning coach for the Falcon lacrosse program, the cross Idaho State. country team and components of the Falcon track and field team (pole vaulters, Green (then Togiai) was a four-year letterwinner at Idaho State. In sprinters and jumpers). her senior season, she was the Big Sky Conference’s leading rebounder Prior to joining the staff at the Academy, Kipp served as a performance and second-leading scorer. During her four-year stint with the Bengals, coach at Velocity Sports Performance in Denver and Evergreen. Prior to his she was a two-time first-team all-conference selection and also gar- stint with Velocity, Kipp was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at nered Big Sky Co-Freshman of the Year honors in 1995. She became the University of Denver. Kipp began his collegiate strength and conditioning the third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder in school history coaching career as the strength and conditioning coordinator at the Colorado (now seventh and fourth, respectively), recording 20 double-doubles School of Mines. during her career. Green also ranks in the top 10 all-time in field goals Kipp received his bachelor’s of science degree in kinesiology from Texas made, field goal percentage, and free throws made. In addition to her A&M in 1995 and his master’s in exercise science from the University of accomplishments on the court, Green was also a stand-out in the class- Northern Colorado in 2004. Kipp also holds strength and conditioning specialist room, being named to the Big Sky’s all-academic team three times. She (CSCS) credentials through the National Strength and Conditioning Association graduated from Idaho State in 1999 with a degree in physical education. (NSCA) and is certified through the National Association of Speed and Explo- As a testament to her success at Idaho State, Green was inducted sion where he serves as the state director for Colorado. Kipp is also a mem- into the Idaho State Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 4, 2008. ber of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, USA A native of Kennewick, Wash., she is the daughter of Green and Weightlifting and USA Track and Field. Linda Togiai and Margaret and Bud Shaw. She has five siblings, John Kipp also serves as a speaker for the NSCA, speaking to groups of national and Justin Togiai, Lori Araujo, Crystal, married to Tony Kalmbach and and international coaches on the area of strength training, speed development Heather, married to Danny Cuillier. She also has two nieces, Lily and and conditioning. He has also authored several text chapters and served on the Kendall. review board for text chapters by other strength and conditioning authors. Green, and her husband, Casey, an assistant equipment manager Originally from Houston, Texas, Kipp now resides in Monument, Colo., for the football team, reside in Colorado Springs. with his wife, Vicki, and their three sons.

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