Joe Augustine Wins 2019 Don Spencer Award
The American Collegiate Hockey Association has awarded University of Rhode Island Head Coach Joe Augustine the 2019 Don Spencer Award, given ‘in recognition of outstanding service and leadership for the American Collegiate Hockey Association.’
Coach Augustine has served as Head Coach at the University of Rhode Island for over 30 seasons and recently coached in his 1,000th game for URI in January 2019. Under Augustine, Rhode Island has enjoyed 28 winning seasons and one ACHA National Championship in 2006. Augustine won back-to-back ACHA Men's Division I Coach of the Year honors in 2004-05 and 2005-06, and was the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year in 2003-04. He most recently was awarded the ESCHL Coach of the Year award for the 2014-2015 season. He also acted as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2006 World University Games in Turin, Italy. Coach Augustine was selected as the head coach for Team USA for the World University Games in Harbin, China in February 2009.
Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Augustine attended and played hockey at Saint Rita High School. In 1976, Augustine was selected by the NHL Atlanta Flames in the seventh round and by the Cleveland Crusaders of the World Hockey Association in the fifth round. He opted for Boston College, helping the Eagles to a Beanpot Championship in 1976, an ECAC Championship and a second-place finish in the 1978 NCAA Tournament held in Providence. In his three seasons with the Eagles, Augustine scored 27 goals and 77 assists for 104 points. In recognition of his outstanding collegiate career, Augustine was inducted into the Boston College Hall of Fame in October 2005.
Augustine turned pro after his junior year and played six seasons in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devil organizations. Augustine earned his B.S. in public administration during the off-season.
Augustine began his coaching career in 1983 as an assistant at Tolman High School in Pawtucket, RI. After two seasons, he became the head coach at Shea High School, also located in Pawtucket. Under his tutelage, the Shea High School Raiders skated to an impressive 19-1 record, winning both division and state titles. Augustine then went on to spend two seasons as an assistant coach at Brown University and then one year as the head coach for the Community College of Rhode Island. Augustine joined the URI Rams in 1989. Augustine resides in North Scituate, RI with his wife Jewell (a former Ice Capades skater). His son Jon and daughter Jaclyn both reside in Providence.
