UMaine community message about passing of coach Red Gendron

The University of Maine has been informed that men’s ice hockey head coach Red Gendron experienced a medical condition this afternoon and passed away. He was 63.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened by Red’s sudden death,” says UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “He was a force in UMaine Athletics and in the legacy of our men’s ice hockey program. We mourn his passing and remember his many contributions to the generations of players he mentored and to the program that lit up Black Bear Nation and the state of Maine. Our thoughts are with his wife Janet, and daughters Katelyn and Allison, his coaching staff and players. They have our support and respect for their privacy during this difficult time.” 

“Words cannot express our deep sadness from the tragic, sudden loss of Red Gendron,” says UMaine Director of Athletics Ken Ralph. “Our community and the entire UMaine Athletics family mourn the loss of Coach Gendron and we ask you all to keep him, his family, his friends, and our hockey staff and student-athletes in your thoughts through this agonizing time.”

Gendron first began coaching at UMaine in fall 1990 and was part of Shawn Walsh’s coaching staff on the 1993 National Championship team. Prior to being named UMaine head men’s ice hockey coach in 2013, Gendron was associate head coach at Yale University. From 2005–11, he was an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts.

Gendron spent 11 seasons in professional hockey with the New Jersey Devils organization. He earned three NHL championship rings as a coach and has twice had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. He was an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils when they captured the Stanley Cup in 1995, and was an assistant and head coach, respectively, with their AHL team in Albany when the Devils won the Stanley Cup in 2000 and 2003.

UMaine students, faculty or staff in need of support can contact the Counseling Center, 207.581.1392, the university’s Employee Assistance Program, 877.622.4327, or the Dean of Students Office, 207.581.1406.

Contact: Margaret Nagle, nagle@maine.edu