Texas RoadRunners’ Assistant Coach Caleb Fitzpatrick will be joining Villanova University as an Assistant Coach this fall. Villanova’s team competes in the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA) of ACHA Division 1. In 2021-22, Villanova posted a record of 16-7-2.
“I am extremely excited to be able to add Caleb Fitzpatrick to our coaching staff at Villanova for next season,” says Villanova Head Coach Rob Colton. “His experience at the ACHA and NA3HL levels will be a huge asset for our staff moving forward. He really checked all the boxes for us and his commitment to the game of hockey was something that really stood out throughout the process.” Colton was the ECHA Coach of the Year in 2021-22.
Fitzpatrick joined the RoadRunners’ staff as an Assistant Coach before the beginning of the 2020-21 season. During his tenure with the team, the RoadRunners set the franchise record for most wins in a season and advanced to the Division Finals for the first time in franchise history. Fitzpatrick played an important role in recruiting for the RoadRunners, bringing NA3HL Top Prospects Ty Neckar, Matthew Edestrand, and Tyler Love to College Station. Love was named South Division Rookie of the year for 2021-22. Fitzpatrick also served as a Scout for the Odessa Jackalopes, the RoadRunners’ NAHL affiliate.
“I’m very grateful for my time with the RoadRunners,” Fitzpatrick says. “Mike Beavis is a wealth of knowledge and it’s been an honor to work alongside him these past two seasons. I will miss the billet families and the fans, but most of all, I will miss the players. We’ve been fortunate to have some really high-character individuals come through this program and I will miss showing up to work with them every day.”
“Caleb will be missed by the entire RoadRunners family and we wish him well on the next step in his quest to become a head coach as well as his continued education that will earn him his masters degree. Having a guy around for two years becomes family and he will not be forgotten for all his efforts with the team and the organization. I personally wish him all the best and hopefully our paths will cross again someday.” states Head Coach Mike Beavis
Fitzpatrick had a hand in advancing numerous RoadRunners to the collegiate ranks. Since he joined the RoadRunners, nine players have moved on to college hockey, including three with NCAA Division III programs.
Away from the ice, Fitzpatrick was instrumental in expanding the RoadRunners’ presence in Bryan-College Station. Over the last two seasons, Fitzpatrick facilitated the expansion of the team’s billet program and sponsorship roster as well as building a great rapport within the Bryan / College Station Community.
The RoadRunners have been going over the applications from several prospective candidates to fill Fitzpatrick’s vacancy and are hoping to announce the teams new assistant coach within the upcoming weeks.
This week the staff will be in Somerset WI for the NAHL Odessa Jackalopes pre draft camp followed by the Vegas camp to be held in Henderson, NV the following weekend. The RoadRunners are hoping to have the new staff member installed in time to attend the Jackalopes main Camp in Chicago in late July.