UNH- How Far West Do We Go?

[HockeyRef]

What about writing to the NH politicians that are UNH alums? Raise the issues of UNH's embarrassing admissions rate, continued programs cuts and the demise of the athletic programs. Posts on this site have no meaning. What constructive steps are the NH VOTERS that post here taking? Most likely none. If politicians think it will cost them votes, they will at least pay some attention.

The key is for people to see that UNH is NOT a private business; accordingly, private business principles to not apply. It's 100% about politics. Politics is about leverage, nothing more. Political spending is about political priorities, which has very little in common with private spending.

Couldn't agree more. I try not to be political here but it's probably no secret that I am a staunch Dem lol. And as a former educator it pains me to see the direction NH continues to take in regard to state funding of education.

Not sure the state of UNH Hockey is much of a priority if it were...Anyway...it all filters down it seems. The fact that the U is facing even more cuts almost make this whole point of changing the bench boss moot?

The future looms large on many fronts we have big fish to fry. Who's coaching our hockey team is the least of our problems.

 

[Snively65]

If it comes down to $$ for not moving on from MS7, my guess is one could set up a GoFundMe and get $100 from 3,000 unhappy UNH fans in fairly short order to buy out a contract (it’s around $300K if I’m not mistaken?) if that is what it comes to… Roughly half attendance at the Whitt.

I’m not advocating to do that. But I think the $300K would be reached sooner than later.

The school would probably just choose to put the money to something else though…

So, Souza’s salary is $240k/year, information that is readily available online for all State employees. But, even if all men’s ice hockey STH’s coughed up $100 each to buy out the last year of Souza’s contract, that would not be enough to recruit a new head coach. And, please stop with the Univ Maine analogy from a few years ago. Just not going to happen.

 

[grooverider]

Turned into? I think most of us are the same people we were when the season started. What a horrible thing to bring up about the late Red Gendron, we want Souza fired not dead. I speak for myself but I could give a crap what you think, good luck tonight with BC.

You either have a great comedy act or are clueless. Judging you dont know the game is tomorrow, I think that answers that.

 

[sezenack]

So theres plenty of comments swirling on social media about MS7's future. One comment that comes up alot is just who are they gonna get? UNH doesnt have the $$ for a Jerry York so whats the point? Like noone on this earth would want or be decent at the job?
I dont buy that one bit....

RPI fan here but if I'm UNH, I go all in on Reid Cashman at Dartmouth and force him to say no. He's about to bring them to the first tourney appearance since the 80s. Incredible coach

 

[HockeyRef]

So, Souza’s salary is $240k/year, information that is readily available online for all State employees. But, even if all men’s ice hockey STH’s coughed up $100 each to buy out the last year of Souza’s contract, that would not be enough to recruit a new head coach. And, please stop with the Univ Maine analogy from a few years ago. Just not going to happen.

So then we are basically stuck until UNH finds 400k plus for a new HC? Talk about things that are never going to happen...

 

[HockeyRef]

RPI fan here but if I'm UNH, I go all in on Reid Cashman at Dartmouth and force him to say no. He's about to bring them to the first tourney appearance since the 80s. Incredible coach

Best post of the day. Am rooting for the Big Green!! But it comes down to the 'NH' problem of no $$...not sure what he makes but has to be more than 240k? Still...intriguing idea..

 

[sezenack]

Best post of the day. Am rooting for the Big Green!! But it comes down to the 'NH' problem of no $$...not sure what he makes but has to be more than 240k? Still...intriguing idea..

Dartmouth (and many of the Ivies) historically have never cared about athletics, so I wouldn't think his salary is super high. No way of knowing that for sure though

 

[Potluck]

Dear Mike,

I want to start by thanking you for everything you have given to the University of New Hampshire hockey program over the years. Your commitment, work ethic, and loyalty to the program have been clear, and there is no question that you care deeply about UNH hockey and the players who come through it. Coaching at this level brings immense pressure and scrutiny, and your dedication to representing the university and supporting your athletes deserves recognition and respect.

At the same time, many of us who care deeply about UNH hockey are struggling with the direction of the program in recent years. The results on the ice and the broader trajectory of the team have made it difficult for fans and supporters to feel the same optimism and competitiveness that once defined UNH hockey. For a program with such a proud history, that has been hard to watch.

Because of that, I hope you will consider stepping down as head coach. This isn’t meant as a dismissal of what you have done for the program, but rather as an acknowledgment that sometimes a program needs a new voice, new energy, and a fresh start. Making that decision voluntarily could be a powerful way to put the long-term health of UNH hockey first while preserving the respect and appreciation many still have for your contributions.

UNH hockey has meant a lot to generations of players, students, alumni, and fans, and your role in that story is significant. Thank you again for the years you have dedicated to the program and for the effort you have put into representing the university.

Wishing you the best moving forward, both personally and professionally.

Sincerely,
Forever Optimistic Fan

Dear Jellsville:

I appreciate you optimistic tone and your dedication to UNH hockey. I can assure you the results on the ice are not satisfactory to the players and coaches.

Your letter asks for my resignation but fails to address the provisions of my contract with UNH. UNH has the right to buy me out. Are you suggesting that I simply resign, walk way for my final year of pay and face unemployment with a wife and children to support merely as a courtesy to you? If so, I must decline. I also have assistant coaches with families. You should be advised that my players are good students and good citizens. Therefore, they are a credit to UNH.

Since your letter seeks accountability for what you note is the poor performance of the hockey team, you should be also concerned about UNH as a whole. UNH has long been underfunded by the taxpayers. Indeed, please look are UNH's in state tuition relative to other New England colleges for the past 20 years. Up until recently, out of state student revenue and federal research funding were responsible keeping UNH a competitive institution we could all be proud of. Both have diminished considerably. UNH now has as admissions rate of 90%. Only the truly dumb get rejected. The sort of dumb get admitted. That's not the way it was when I attended. Can you furnish me with copies of letters you have written to your the NH politicians in Concord on the issue of UNH's funding?

UNH has implemented and will continue to implement massive funding cuts, which means unfortunately that the environment will only get worse. What do I call massive budget cuts to an already underfunded university? A compound screwing that leads to an exponential decrease in performance in all aspects of University performance. Most of the sports programs have under-performed relative to their traditions competitors. Of course, the funding for the programs is substantially less than their traditional competitors, which suggest a likely cause for the problem. Of course, the admissions rate pretty much says it all about the demand for a UNH education.

Against all this, I used my fundraising capabilities to locate an angel donor to help underwrite a $20 renovation project for men's and women's hockey infrastructure. While you clearly don't respect my efforts, you should better understand why I will not release UNH from my contract. The renovation project will benefit UNH long after I'm gone. Can you please provide me the the names of other University employees that have been a catalyst for similar fundraising?

While I appreciate your passion, it's pretty clear you are not well informed and are comfortable harming my family. I accept and expect that I will not receive an extension from UNH beyond next year. But if you believe I'm going to just give $250,000 to the same NH taxpayers that are too cheap to properly fund UNH, you are living in a fool's paradise.

In short, I am excited to coach UNH for the 2026-27 hockey season!

Regards,

Mike Souza

 

[HockeyRef]

Dartmouth (and many of the Ivies) historically have never cared about athletics, so I wouldn't think his salary is super high. No way of knowing that for sure though

Well he (Cashman) won't be available until 2028..Souza's contract is up at the end of March 2027. By then UNH will be either resigning him (which I believe like Snively65 and others) will be the most likely scenario or moving on from him.

 

[Felger]

Dartmouth (and many of the Ivies) historically have never cared about athletics, so I wouldn't think his salary is super high.

That's news to Ricky Santos and all the assistant coaches he took with him

 

[Darius]

I would take Todd the homeless guy in Durham right now and he would do it for a shot a game

There's a homeless guy in Durham? Asking as a former homeless guy in Durham. Thanks.

 

[Whalers]

Can we please stop with the we need to renovate before we can succeed drivel and bureaucratic speak about acceptance rates. Rip off the band-aid, remove the coach. Give me a young, hungry coach with a sack, some energy and desire to rise above. Let him bring some excitement to the Whitt, a bright future story to tell and let him get to work. Success (or better than we have now) will follow, I guarantee it. If you want to swim in the pool and then complain about shrinkage being your dating problem, that is an EXCUSE, and pathetic.

When UNH made it to Anaheim in 99, applications to UNH rose 30%+. That translates into a lot more asses in the Paul School or Kingsbury seats, AND in the Whitt's seats, so more revenue to UNH on both fronts. See how some enthusiasm works? ALL OF US need to stop the excuses, a turnaround can be done and done quickly. I see it in Sales and in companies all the time. MS7 is a farmer, we need a hunter!

 

[walrus]

Couldn't agree more. I try not to be political here but it's probably no secret that I am a staunch Dem lol. And as a former educator it pains me to see the direction NH continues to take in regard to state funding of education.

Not sure the state of UNH Hockey is much of a priority if it were...Anyway...it all filters down it seems. The fact that the U is facing even more cuts almost make this whole point of changing the bench boss moot?

The future looms large on many fronts we have big fish to fry. Who's coaching our hockey team is the least of our problems.

I've read NH commitment to academics is pretty low at every level not just at UNH. Its happening in Maine and probably everywhere in the US

Watcher good to see you back even if only a minute, always enjoyed your take on College hockey in general.

 

[Potluck]

I think that you actually make some good posts when you are not preoccupied with the juvenile name-calling.

I do appreciate this post. I'll just let you in on a little history. My history of posting started very thoughtfully. But I quickly noticed a few posters that sort of treated this Board like a lower intelligence 6th grade bully treats a playground. I also noted the complete lack of respect and decency they showed to Souza and people that disagreed with them. Finally, I noticed that the group was not particularly bright. I really don't mean to be insulting. I'm coming with the truth.

Souza is a very good man. Indeed, nobody that I know that has met him had a negative word to say about him. He's not been a successful coach but he's unquestionably a man of high integrity. In addition, he works for people and for an institution that are currently very mediocre. The personal abuse that was foisted at him on this Board was outrageous. The people that have attacked him most are very mediocre in their own lives and they really abused him. They continuously critiqued his salary, which, frankly, is not a very impressive income. Nevertheless, because these very mediocre people have very mediocre incomes, they viewed his salary as a princely sum. Jealously took over.

Many even made derisive comments about Souza's life story, including his wife. Once again, it's a case of mediocre men and women living mediocre lives who married mediocre spouses attacking a good man for not having much success professionally. I'm talking about Buford a/k/a Chuck Murray, Elwood a/k/a JD, Meathead a/k/a Norbert, The Grouchy Cat a/k/a The Dumb Cat and Emily a/k/a Emily the Flunky. These people also were vicious in how they treated Ryan Conmy.

Morever, the mediocre posters that attack Souza simply don't have the intellectual fire power to see the bigger picture - a under-performing university that has been abandoned for the most part by the taxpayers. That's the REAL issue. Yet, these people have found a scapegoat in Souza.

So I decided to treat the group of mediocre posters in the same spirit they treated Souza and Conmy. Frankly, it's been amusing. They aren't bright enough to see the irony but a bunch of posters on this Board have and have messaged me with amusement.

 

[HockeyRef]

I've read NH commitment to academics is pretty low at every level not just at UNH. Its happening in Maine and probably everywhere in the US

Watcher good to see you back even if only a minute, always enjoyed your take on College hockey in general.

Yes our dollars are being stretched very, very thin particularly with education. Maine is fortunate (UMaine and all else I assume?) that they have an fund like the Alfond...which I know very little if anything, about. I read an interview with Mike Souza lamenting that NH/UNH doesn't have such a fund...yet (his words). Not sure where this funding is going to come from but an improvement in the facilities are a start I suppose. Of course, NIL $$$ is an entirely different animal/bridge to cross. Good luck in your quest to repeat as HE champs...

 

[HockeyRef]

I do appreciate this post. I'll just let you in on a little history. My history of posting started very thoughtfully. But I quickly noticed a few posters that sort of treated this Board like a lower intelligence 6th grade bully treats a playground. I also noted the complete lack of respect and decency they showed to Souza and people that disagreed with them. Finally, I noticed that that group was not particularly bright. I really don't mean to be insulting. I'm coming with the truth.

Souza is a very good man. Indeed, nobody that I know that has met him has ever had a negative word to say about him. He's not been a successful coach but he's unquestionably a man of high integrity. In addition, he works for people and for an institution that are currently very mediocre. The personal abuse that was foisted at him on this Board was outrageous. The people that have attacked him most are very mediocre in their own lives and they really abused him. They continuously critiqued his salary, which, frankly, is not a very impressive income. Nevertheless, because these very mediocre people have very mediocre incomes, they viewed his salary as a princely sum. Jealously took over.

Many even made derisive comments about Souza's life story, including his wife. Once again, it's a case of mediocre men and women living mediocre lives who married mediocre spouses attacking a good man for not having much success professionally. I'm talking about Buford a/k/a Chuck Murray, Elwood a/k/a JD, Meathead a/k/a Norbert, The Grouchy Cat a/k/a The Dumb Cat and Emily a/k/a Emily the Flunky. These people also were vicious in how they treated Ryan Conmy.

Morever, the mediocre posters that attack Souza simply don't have the intellectual fire power to see the bigger picture - a under-performing university that has been abondoned for the most part by the taxpayers. That's the REAL issue. Yet, these people have found a scapegoat in Souza.

So I decided to treat the group of mediocre posters in the same spirit they treated Souza and Conmy. Frankly, it's been amusing. They aren't bright enough to see the irony but a bunch of posters on this Board have and have messaged me with amusement.

Just want to say that as far as I know, or remember at least, no one here has commented on Mike Souza's integrity personally? Or his wife/family other than his (Souza) comment that players often 'meet their wives' at UNH/college. I believe his daughter has committed to UNH hockey...Anyway...the taxpayers in NH are kind of 'tapped out' as the state forces/ expects us to hold the ball on every single expense in this state, education not being withstanding. And we are about to be hit with more, if the current NH house has their way with even further pullouts from state funding, which is already at a low. So I don't know why it's fair to say that those of us who live in this state aren't giving what we can...I may be going out on a limb but most here generally feel that yes, Mike Souza is an upstanding person. As a hockey coach? Well, I mean, just take a look. Sorry if that makes me a 'bad fan' who's not 'giving enough' to make him COTY. He's obviously got his backing from the donors that I know; they aren't interested in moving on from him and thankfully, are giving the funds necessary for the rennovations, if I'm correct.

No one here has ever questioned his commitment to the program, his amount of 'blue blood'. We just see that after 8 seasons with the exception of 1...it's not great, and
the constant in the equation is he's the head coach. I don't think that is too much to ask, but maybe I am delusional to expect more? I know what the stakes are, what he's up against...but he's not alone in that but he needs to figure out (despite facilities, lack of NIL money or whatever) how to get his program out of this bottom feeder status. Winning just ONE game like last night would go a heck of a long way. Don't worry, I'm renewing today. I also just gave to PSU's Foley Gym rehab. This NH gal does what she can, and I'm not going to feel badly about asking for a team I've followed for 12 seasons to just get it better now and then. I support these players and coaches but my wallet has only so much money...but I give what I can, go to games when I can (I went to 7 away games this season, and, 99% of the home games. I mean, I went back to Schenectady!! lol)

Watcher, so good to see you today and your points about 'acceptance' make the most sense. What's more, others have expressed the same thing. Maybe that's the way to
go with all of this. Frankly? I wasn't upset about the loss last night like in past years. I get it. Go blue!

 

[Snively65]

RPI fan here but if I'm UNH, I go all in on Reid Cashman at Dartmouth and force him to say no. He's about to bring them to the first tourney appearance since the 80s. Incredible coach

Why in the world would Reid Cashman take a huge salary cut to become the head coach at UNH? Moreover, Cashman has a much better chance of taking the Big Green to the NCAA’s than he ever would have at UNH.

 

[Potluck]

the taxpayers in NH are kind of 'tapped out' as the state forces/ expects us to hold the ball on every single expense in this state, education not being withstanding. And we are about to be hit with more, if the current NH house has their way with even further pullouts from state funding, which is already at a low. So I don't know why it's fair to say that those of us who live in this state aren't giving what we can

Without re-litigating this, NH has no income tax. The taxpayers really couldn't be doing less. In any event, I respect that's for the voters. But it also fully explains what is going on at UNH. There really shouldn't be complaining about the quality of a hockey program at a state school the taxpayers don't really support.

 

[Dan]

I have not watched a single minute of UNH Hockey this season. So I won’t comment on Souza or the Wildcats, but I will tell you a quick story about what I have been doing with my time - watching another woebegone program that never had a chance…

It’s a program that had a decent season 20 years ago, but whose last great season was nearly 30 years ago. Even then, the coaches, team and fans complained about an aging facility better suited as an auditorium than an arena, and even worse ‘under the hood’. How could they ever be expected to compete again in such an antiquated building, and with so little money/funding relative to their more notable peers…

Fast forward to today, they’re playing in the same building - now nearly 60 years old, full of asbestos and falling apart.

From 2013-2022, in the years following the departure of a legendary coach, the program posted a meager record of 129-183 (.413). The program’s outlook was bleak. Funding was blamed. Facilities were blamed. State politics were blamed. Location was blamed. There was no solution. The program was what it was.

A funny thing happened ahead of the 2022-23 season. The program hired a new coach. And the coach brought a lot of energy.

He was certain the team would win. He raved about all the ‘advantages’ the program boasted. He promised he could recruit elite talent, and spoke of building something special. Many fans would dismiss his enthusiasm as ‘rah rah talk’, and the grumbles grew even louder when the coach finished his first season with the team 12-20…

The next season the team was 15-17, a modest improvement.

In 2024-25 they went 25-9! And this is where things got interesting!

The school with no money found a reason - and a way - to offer the coach an extension and a raise. They chipped in some meager NIL funding. Two players left for bigger programs and cash offers, but the rest of the team stayed.

This season? Well, they choked this morning, but they’re currently 31-1.

Attendance - which averaged 1800 early in the season - jumped to over 10,000 per game down the stretch. Donations have poured in to the university. Applications have soared and acceptance rates will fall similarly. The state’s governor - an alum - attended a game with much excitement! The school has enjoyed 100s of millions of dollars in earned media, not yet including an all but certain at-large trip to the NCAA Tournament…

The coach earned himself ANOTHER contract offer/raise.

Most shockingly, the university proposed and approved a 240-280 million dollar new arena to be built almost exclusively through private funding and development. Furthermore, the school plans to raise significant NIL money to pour into the program.

The program that had nothing, would always have nothing and should never expect any more than nothing, suddenly had everything.

And all it took was a spark of belief, a bit of enthusiasm and a reason…

—

If Miami (OH) Basketball is to apples to oranges for anyone’s liking, the RedHawk ice hockey program improved from 3 wins to 18 wins in the second year of the Anthony Noreen era. Recruiting has ‘off the charts’ improved despite zero changes to budget, salaries or facilities following the Bergeron regime (35-116-16)…

 

[Jellsville USA]

Dear Jellsville:

I appreciate you optimistic tone and your dedication to UNH hockey. I can assure you the results on the ice are not satisfactory to the players and coaches.

Your letter asks for my resignation but fails to address the provisions of my contract with UNH. UNH has the right to buy me out. Are you suggesting that I simply resign, walk way for my final year of pay and face unemployment with a wife and children to support merely as a courtesy to you? If so, I must decline. I also have assistant coaches with families. You should be advised that my players are good students and good citizens. Therefore, they are a credit to UNH.

Since your letter seeks accountability for what you note is the poor performance of the hockey team, you should be also concerned about UNH as a whole. UNH has long been underfunded by the taxpayers. Indeed, please look are UNH's in state tuition relative to other New England colleges for the past 20 years. Up until recently, out of state student revenue and federal research funding were responsible keeping UNH a competitive institution we could all be proud of. Both have diminished considerably. UNH now has as admissions rate of 90%. Only the truly dumb get rejected. The sort of dumb get admitted. That's not the way it was when I attended. Can you furnish me with copies of letters you have written to your the NH politicians in Concord on the issue of UNH's funding?

UNH has implemented and will continue to implement massive funding cuts, which means unfortunately that the environment will only get worse. What do I call massive budget cuts to an already underfunded university? A compound screwing that leads to an exponential decrease in performance in all aspects of University performance. Most of the sports programs have under-performed relative to their traditions competitors. Of course, the funding for the programs is substantially less than their traditional competitors, which suggest a likely cause for the problem. Of course, the admissions rate pretty much says it all about the demand for a UNH education.

Against all this, I used my fundraising capabilities to locate an angel donor to help underwrite a $20 renovation project for men's and women's hockey infrastructure. While you clearly don't respect my efforts, you should better understand why I will not release UNH from my contract. The renovation project will benefit UNH long after I'm gone. Can you please provide me the the names of other University employees that have been a catalyst for similar fundraising?

While I appreciate your passion, it's pretty clear you are not well informed and are comfortable harming my family. I accept and expect that I will not receive an extension from UNH beyond next year. But if you believe I'm going to just give $250,000 to the same NH taxpayers that are too cheap to properly fund UNH, you are living in a fool's paradise.

In short, I am excited to coach UNH for the 2026-27 hockey season!

Regards,

Mike Souza

Hi Mike,

Thank you again for taking the time to respond. I respect your commitment to your players, staff, and family. My note wasn’t meant to overlook the realities of your contract—it was meant to express, directly and honestly, the concerns many longtime supporters have about the direction of the program.

I’ve followed UNH hockey since your days on the S‑Line, and I still remember that incredible 1998–99 run—31 wins and your third‑period goal in the national championship game. Moments like that helped define what UNH hockey can be, and they’re a big part of why expectations remain high today.

I also want to be clear: this year’s roster showed real promise. The new Canadian players and the young defensemen brought energy and potential that fans noticed immediately. I sincerely hope the program does everything possible to retain this group and prevent portal departures. Keeping that core intact is essential—not optional—if UNH wants to move forward competitively.

I understand the broader challenges you mentioned around funding and the university climate. But as someone who cares deeply about the program, I believe accountability and progress matter too, and that’s why I spoke up.

I respect your decision to coach through the final year of your contract. I truly hope the 2026–27 season reflects the potential this roster has and delivers the step forward that players, fans, and the program deserve.

Thank you again for your response and for all you’ve contributed to UNH hockey over the years.

Regards,

Forever Optimistic Fan