Jim Fanning, Sr.

Hockey
Head Coach
(1963-69)

Inducted 1998

Jim Fanning, Sr. established the University of the New Haven’s men’s ice hockey program and coached it for the first five seasons. His commitment and dedication to the hockey program was unparalleled. Fanning, who taught economics at UNH, also served the University as its Director of Counseling, Assistant Director of Admissions and Director of Student Services. He was truly interested in the well-being of his players and was an ambassador of the sport. Fanning bought sweatshirts which he and his wife Peggy stitched numbers on the back of so the team would have uniforms. The team struggled for wins its first two seasons, but quickly turned that around. Fanning led the Chargers to a 13-3 record in the 1965-66 season and nine-win seasons each of his final three season as coach. New Haven won the Worcester College Hockey League in just its fifth season of existence, made even more impressive by the fact that it played every game on the road that season. He finished his career with a 46-30-2 record, having won over 60 percent of his games.