USA Hockey preaches that you don’t ever want to be a player’s last coach. The obvious philosophy focuses on developing players as an athlete. But Matt Koch knows his players will gain far more from developing personally and professionally. As head coach of the University of Akron Men’s Club Ice Hockey Team, Matt recognizes that he is the last coach they’ll play for. And he is seizing the opportunity to give his players a leg up on the competition, called real life.

“After me it’s pretty much all ‘beer league’ for the rest of their lives,” jokes Matt (a.k.a. “Coach Cookie”). “They know how to play hockey, but now they have to know how to become adults, too.”

Feeling a sense of responsibility, Matt created Life U, a unique program to help the players transition to adulthood. Matt and his coaching team launched the program during the 2017-2018 season after a year where 17 of the 20 recruits left. He knew his program had to be about more than just hockey.

Read the full story at www.citylifestyle.com