UK Cool Cats head coach Rob Docherty played every position except goalie during his playing days and says hockey has been a great part of his life. Photo by Adam Wolffbrandt | Staff
Rob Docherty stands on the sideline, arms casually crossed. It is 3 a.m. on a Sunday morning and the scene that unfolds before him is a Division II club hockey game, but he is not a normal coach.
What makes a grown man want to give up his weekends seven months a year and stay up as late, if not later, than most college kids, to coach that oh-so-Canadian sport in this oh-so-equestrian state?
“It’s for the love of the sport,” Docherty said. “Hockey has given me so much over the years — the competition, the friendships. It’s been a great part of my life.”
Make that a great big part of his life. Growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Docherty picked up a hockey stick at age 5, primarily because that is what just about all kids in Canada do when they are 5 years old.
Docherty never put the stick down.
He played in Canadian leagues, American leagues, German leagues and Swedish leagues. He loved every bit of hockey he played on every part of the globe.
“I can still remember playing in Sweden like it was yesterday,” Docherty said.
That vast wealth of experience made its way into his coaching philosophy, giving UK a hint of European flavor. He designs systems around an open-ice concept emphasizing control of the puck, which he said was his favorite style of hockey to play.
Docherty not only played on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but also played on both sides of the puck. He has experience at every position on the ice except goalie, which allows him to see the team as a complete unit.
“I know what it’s like to be on both sides of the puck,” Docherty said. “I can explain things to every position in better terms because I’ve played both offense and defense. I know what everyone needs to be doing in relation to what everyone else is doing.”
Docherty took over the team in the second semester of the 2005-06 season after he was chosen by the players to ascend from assistant to head coach. With the new found title came a new found style of coaching.
“He’s become way more vocal since he took over,” said captain Andrew Serres, who was a freshman when Docherty became coach. “As an assistant, he hardly ever spoke. Now he loves to give motivational speeches, tell us stories about his playing days. He compares the team to an orchestra or to a dance team. They sound ridiculous now, but when he says them, you buy into it.”
But just because Docherty has picked up the amount of talking doesn’t mean he has picked up the volume. On the sidelines, he is a portrait of cool, calm and collected.
“I don’t believe in yelling at players,” Docherty said. “When the game is on, all you can do is work on the positives. I don’t need to get in a guy’s face to make them understand me. I can talk to them. It’s easier to influence them that way.”
Not only is Docherty the head coach, he’s the entire coaching staff. He’s a one-man hockey variety show. He relies on team captains to shoulder a heavy leadership role in place of coaches.
Docherty said the college level suits him because he doesn’t have to teach the fundamentals, and “wouldn’t have the patience to, anyway.” Instead, he can focus on finding a system that fits the players from year to year. In four years, he realizes how much he has developed as a coach.
“After being around for four years, you live and you learn,” Docherty said. “But it’s been a pleasure working with all the guys that have come through the program, seeing them grow with the club. It’s worth it every weekend.”
Cool Cats raise money for Haiti
The UK club hockey team raised $834 in their “Hockey for Haiti” fundraiser.
The team sold items such as customized jerseys and Ashley Judd schedule posters from the 1998-99 season, which have become a collector’s item.
Journalists have an old saying–”If your mother says she loves you, check it out.” Did you fact check what this fraud told you? He has no statistics outside of coaching for UK. With the advent of the internet, hockey statistics (and any other statistics for that matter) are readily available. Look at hockeydb.com, the most reliable source of stats on the web. Nothing for Rob Docherty.
Furthermore, the man doesn’t possess the skill-set of a former pro. He can’t skate or shoot. You want proof? Go to a practice and watch this phony. This man has duped UK Hockey and the team has suffered because of it. With Valerino–the undisputed real coach of the team–done for the season, we are seeing just how futile Docherty’s coaching is.
I don’t what’s worse, the faulty journalism or the poor coaching and fake credentials of Docherty.
Clint … you sound like a disgruntled 4th liner or practice player who doesnt get anytime in the games cause your an ankle bender
Craw,
Everything Clint said is absolutely true and it’s a shame that UK does not have a capable head coach.
Clint,its a shame you feel this way.Taking shots and verbally assaulting Coach Dockerty isn’t the solution.Have you ever talked to him,or at least now,made an effort to meet him?(my bet says neither).When the team was 17-1 there wasn’t too much chirping.Now that the team is 20-8,everyone is an expert.Lets talk about the “undisputed coach of the team”.Leading the country in scoring,breaking all sorts of team records,etc.MEANS NOTHING if you are academically ineligible!Talking about commitment and letting a team down–where was he when the team really needs him (obviously not studying).As an Alternate Captain and “leader” or the team,off the rink,grades are more important than goals!
I guess I would wonder why Tony doesn’t come to practice and help Coach Dockerty,if indeed he was a team player.Volunteerism doesn’t hurt anyone!
Can anything in this article be substantiated? Can anything Clint said be refuted?
I respectfully disagree with the negative comments about Coach Rob.He played at very high levels of amateur hockey and the hockey db primarily concentrates on pro hockey.This GENTLEMAN both KNOWS and LOVES the game,is an OUTSTANDING coach,and UK is fortunate to have him.My son,who graduated on time several years ago feels very lucky to have played for him at UK.Hockey is a TEAM game and Coach Rob gets the most out of the players he has.No disrespect to Valerino,but the thing I respect the most about college club hockey is the players must be REAL student athletes whose first priority is education for their life’s work.The remaining players on this year’s team are VERY GOOD,play with heart and enthusiasm,and all the true CoolCat fans,including me ,will continue to root hard for them-at hockey and in life.By the way,they won 2 great games this last weekend over U of Dayton!!!
The comments on Coach D were out of line. Also I am sure there is NO BIGGER FAN of the team right now than Valerino
In reading the comments on Coach Docherty, there are two issues regarding these comments. Having coached ice hockey for nearly twenty years and had the opportunity to watch a few of the UK games these are my thoughts on the whole situation.
On the positive side, Coach Docherty is devoting his time and efforts for very little pay. In comparison to Coach Callipari you might as well say he is doing it for free and for the love of the game. As a coach, sometimes the failure and success of a team depends on how well the team meshes and buys into what the coach is teaching. There is also a commitment level required from the players. The fact that some players cannot pass three classes is inexcusable.
However, on the negative side there is no way one person can coach a quality hockey team by himself. I prefer a minimum of two assistant coaches, one who monitors the offense and one who monitors the defense while I watch the flow of the game. When you look at most of the teams that UK is playing who are serious about their club teams you will find that they have multiple coaches on the bench. The old adage two heads or more are better than one holds true in this case. The assistants should be monitoring shift length, line changes and evaluating performance levels as each players is not always on top of his game each and every game. Who’w hot and who’s not. The coaching staff in essence becomes a team.
If someone wants to check credentials most coaches are USA hockey certified and at this level of play I would think a level 4 advanced ceritification would be warranted. This can be easily verified by contacting USA Hockey.
All things considered, the players, coach, manager and administration need to decide what level of program they want. If it’s strictly recreational then you are there. If you want a more serious approach and make a run at nationals then everyone needs to step up to the plate and do their part. At this juncture, the other teams are picking up steam and passing a UK HOckey Team that has a tremendous amount of potential.
OK … so there are no scholarships and everyone pays their own way. And right now you state that the level of the program is recreational. If thats the case then why this big uproar about a coaches level of certification, whether he has a certain level or level at all and a players ineligibilty (which happens to players on free rides also, we’re not paying his way are we so who cares.) If a player is struggling with school then he shouldnt play and should get school addressed, especially if the sport is recreational. USA Hockey has a website and i’m sure if you need to check out the coaches, the players, or others, certifications you can find it there. But if his league doesnt require certification of a certain level cause its rec then it really doesnt matter.
For all of the so called fans of uk hockey with all of their overwhelming concerns . for the team, it amazes me that you virturally know nothing about the inside of the game.Trying to address all of your negative comments and concerns seems petty for spineless observers who never contributed anything to the team or the sport.But I will say a few comments. Coach Docherty doesnt deserve your immature statements he devotes his time and experiance to every game, his heart for this sport is boundless and your deep rooted concerns about UK hockey finding a more adequete coach are humorous considering that the uk athletics department doesnt give the team hardly any funding ,this coach works for the few pennies he gets for home games einstiens.its all for the love of the game not money . so if you have a grip about the standards of uk hockey maybe you should be pushing your school to fund all sports not just the ones that make the most money for them .dont forget this is just a club ,these boys and this coach wear the college logo with pride for the love of the game and the college they represent .when they 14 and 1 you never cared about multiple coaches ,and by the way how many teams lose every day with three or more coaches on the bench. i personally think its refreshing that a coach lets his team be more interactive with one another ,contributing to the decisions about the team . you are acting as if this team has a terrible standing in the acha ,my god they are in sixth place in the southeast division thats pretty respectable . look at all the money that goes into basketball and as great as their season has been they are third and thats a million dollar progtam. give this team and coach the respect they deserve you need to remember the saying ‘walk a mile in my moccasins’ .
Thank you Coach Docherty for your time and devotion!!!
UK Hockey is great and if you haven’t watched it, come out to a game. Only two home weekends left this season! Coach Docherty and all the players work hard and deserve more support from the school. There is real talent out there and if you know hockey, you know these guys have a passion for their sport. This is the BEST game in town! Go Wildcats–beat PSU this weekend!
I agree with Scotty–this man is doing the job of 3 or 4 guys, all on his own, and for little compensation.
Congrats to Coach Docherty and the Cool Cats for the great season. Especially for the exciting win against Tennessee…that’s a bitter rivalry for UK regardless of the sport!
Poor Clint. Sounds to me like he should spend more time on the ice rather than writing articles and posting comments about Coach Docherty. You were cut for a reason and obviously it is over your head, putting his knowledge of hockey well above yours. There are no credentials or experience in the pros required to coach UK hockey and Doc has never lied about any of his hockey history. Now fraudulent journalism would be trusting your all mighty hockeydb.com. Where did the word “pro” even come into the picture until you mentioned it? The only thing required is his time and commitment which he has devoted for 8 years. Why Docs skill on the ice is even a concern is beyond me. I hope I can still bend over to tie my skates at his age. Tony never played a coaching role larger than he would have on any other team. He was an amazing hockey player and highly respected by every single player and person involved with UK hockey. Doc would be “futile” (as you say) not to collaborate with Valerino. As far as UK hockey suffering, I don’t see any evidence of that. This is the best team to ever play for UK. 20-9-0? What more could you ask for. The only thing they are suffering is the loss of 3 TOP players and they are STILL kicking ass. This extremely talented team has come together through these huge changes and is still putting the puck in the net and winning games. Now please tell me what more you want from Doc? Im sure if he wasn’t around you wouldn’t have had the pleasure to be involved with UK hockey for whatever amount of time you were. Any other coach would have thrown you out of the rink and teach up your tryout check. Don’t take low blows to this great club because your sad you aren’t talented enough to be apart of it. From looking at the comments it is clear you are the minority here even with the little, and false behind the scenes knowledge you choose to use so cheaply. Have fun at men’s league.
CLINT concerning your comments about Coach Docherty and his credentials maybe you should ask how the coach with so little experience (your words and feelings not mine)has taken his team from a quote ‘party team’that hardly had a record to brag about to a respectable team,that by the way went to nationals a few years ago– and was beat by a team that hardly anyone in this division can beat(DAVENPORT) who went on to beat every team and become national champions— and to add to that fact DAVENPORT is respected by their college, hockey is considered a real sport there,with backing and funding from their athletics dept.the year that COACH DOCHERTY took his team to nationals U.K. had a football and basketball team that in no way surpassed the accomplishments of the hockey team and yet—U.K.never even acknowledged how good this team was ,and this coach wasnt being paid a million dollar contract to bring his team to that level.experience ,credentials–just words if you cant back it up with actions and results—by the way coach docherty was misquoted, he said he played amatuer hockey and played against swedish, german, and american teams. and as far as the coach being a shooter or skater —-he was in his time—that speaks for many coaches.do you think coach cal would have a chance against JOHN WALL or DEMARCUS COUSINS.thats not a coaches job anyway.A coach in his best moment brings out the true potential of every player by inspiring them with his knowledge and wisdom and teaching them determination and honor,and most importantly how to win and lose with dignity.that is the epitome of a class ‘a’ coach and thats what COACH DOCHERTY fondly known as ‘DOC’ IS……..
I’m glad to see so many of you guys backing Doc. I had the pleasure of playing for him in high school, and he is nothing more than a class act. Sounds to me like Clint is salty about not making the team. But there are people like that everywhere, and nobody can change that. Anybody who is honest, and actually knows Doc, knows that he puts his heart and soul into the UK hockey team. Just as he did when he was my coach in high school. Ask any coach in the country, in any sport, and they will tell you that a 20-9 record (with practically no funding from the school) is pretty damn good. So Clint, why don’t you keep your childish, boneheaded comments to yourself. GO BIG BLUE!!!
Coach is great for the team and the program and I hope they go all the way. Too bad Valerino couldn’t get his shit together, but that happens on any team in any sport. Oh, the comment about this being the best team ever, however, is in no way accurate. There were back to back teams in the mid 90′s that went to back to back National Tourney semi-finals playing just as tough if not tougher competition. I would say those teams were the best ever. But regardless, if they win it all this year then I guess you could say they are the best……
I find it amazing that even you ‘fans’ who back Coach Doc after Clint’s attack have NO problem leveling insults at Valerino. “obviously not studying” get his sh#t together.” Unless you know what is going on you should probably keep your mouths shut just like you told Clint to do. In fact, you are no better than Clint with your attacks on him – worse even. He attacked an article. You attacked a person. Sometimes life intrudes on hockey. Sometimes life intrudes on school.