Davenport University Athletics

Phil Sweeney is in year two of his second stint as head coach for the ACHA DI Hockey program after serving as hockey recruiting coordinator during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. He is entering his 12th season overall leading the program and also served as the assistant coach from 2005-2011. Sweeney is also the Manager of Campus Operations and Events at Kentwood Public Schools since July 2021. Sweeney previously served as the Ice Arena Manager at Kentwood Ice Arena from 2018-2021. Phil also served as the head coach at the Bantam AA level, in the GRAHA organization for two years. He also served as an assistant coach on Team Michigan U-14 team in 2008. Phil played for the University of Kentucky for two years and was the head coach for two years after playing.

Sweeney built the Panthers into a national contender during his first stint behind the bench (10 years) compiling a record of 226-121-2 with eight seasons of 20-plus victories. The Panthers captured one GLCHL regular season championship in 2015-16 and won the 2012-13 GLCHL Tournament during Sweeney's second season. The Panthers also made nine consecutive trips to the ACHA National Tournament.

Sweeney tasted success in the 2023-24 campaign as the team improved by 14 wins from the previous season without Sweeney behind the controls. They were able to hold an advantage on home ice going 11-4 at Patterson Ice Center. The team started 7-1 including a pair of road wins at No. 14 Pittsburgh. They also defeated No. 18 Purdue Northwest and No. 7 Grand Valley State during the first semester. The squad finished fourth in the GLCHL standings and opened the conference tournament with a 2-1 victory over No. 15 Grand Valley State. They would fall 3-2 in the semifinals against eventual national champion Adrian College at Farmington Hills Ice Arena.

During the 2019-20 season, the Panthers saw their postseason come to an end due to the COVID-19 pandemic after they bowed out of the GLCHL Tournament in the semifinals. They compiled an 18-12 record and were 9-6 on home ice. Adam Goudelock was named to the GLCHL First Team on defense and Zach Janis was a member of the GLCHL All-Rookie Team. The season's highlight win came against #3 Minot State on October 27 in Chicago (4-3). That showcase in the Windy City also included a win over #8 UNLV.

In the 2018-19 campaign, the Panthers doubled up their win total compared to their losses with a 24-12 record. After dropping the season opener, DU won their next 10 games. The Panthers would finish second during the regular season in the GLCHL and eventually were runner-up in the GLCHL Tournament. They won their first game at nationals against Central Oklahoma (8-3) before falling in the quarterfinals to UM-Dearborn (6-4). Alex Hulford earned GLCHL Most Valuable Player honors while Hulford and Adam Goudelock were First Team performers.

In the 2017-18 season, the Panthers went 20-14 overall and were 12-4 at home. The team advanced to the GLCHL Tournament semifinals falling to UM-Dearborn and then advanced to the ACHA National quarterfinals before falling to Lindenwood. 

Sweeney saw his program featured on ESPN3 for the ACHA Game of the Week twice during the 2016-17 season and won both contests. They beat Adrian 5-4 on Oct. 28 and then beat Colorado State 5-2 on Jan. 15. The squad finished with an overall record of 27-8-1 and the team finished sixth in the ACHA Division I rankings at the end of the season. The team began the season with 10 straight wins and were ranked as high as third early in the season. The team defeated Arizona State in the first game of nationals and fell in the second round to Adrian.

During the 2015-16 season, Sweeney guided the team to an appearance in the ACHA Division I Tournament semifinals and finished the season ranked fourth in the nation. The team went 33-4-1 overall and posted a 18-1 record in the GLCHL. In addition, they registered a 22-game winning streak during the year. The team won the GLCHL regular season and then fell in the conference tournament final in overtime to Michigan-Dearborn. The team beat Robert Morris (Ill.) and Central Oklahoma in the nationals before falling to Lindenwood.

In the 2014-15 season, Sweeney guided Davenport to another 25 win season as the posted a record of 25-11-2-4 on the season. The Panthers also reclaimed the Good Luck DUck after sweeping Oakland and won the Blue-Gray Cup with a series win over Liberty. He guided DU to their fifth straight appearance in the ACHA National Tournament, where they beat Villanova, 11-2, before falling to Minot State in overtime.

The 2013-14 season saw the Panthers post a 25-12-0-3 mark while finishing second in the GLCHL regular season and tournament. DU made their fourth straight appearance at the ACHA DI National Tournament and Sweeney coached World University Games player Phil Wendecker.

After a major roster overhaul following the 2011-12 campaign, Sweeney guided the Panthers to a 30-10-0-1 mark in 2012-13 season highlighted by claiming the program's first ever GLCHL Tournament crown. Throughout 2012-13, the Panthers picked up series wins over Liberty (Blue-Grey Cup) and Oakland (Good Luck Duck) while posting a 13-10 mark against teams ranked inside the ACHA Top-25.

During his time as an assistant under head coach Paul Lowden, Phil helped build Davenport into the premier ACHA hockey program that has been highlighted by four consecutive national championships (three at the D2 level and one at the D1 level).  Phil’s roles on the team were to help oversee the offense, work with the special teams, and he also worked as a tireless recruiter as an assistant coach. .

Phil also serves as one of the Head Instructors for the Drills, Skills, and Thrills summer hockey camp through GRAHA.  He has participated in many hockey camps, as an instructor and as a speaker over the years and has achieved his level 4 coaching level through USA Hockey.

 

Season	W	L	PCT.	GLCHL	ACHA
2023-2024	20	14	.588	4th	N/A
2020-2021	3	7	.300	-	1st Round
2019-2020	18	12	.600	3rd	N/A COVID-19
2018-2019	24	12	.667	2nd	Quarterfinals
2017-2018	20	14	.588	2nd	Quarterfinals
2016-2017	27	8	.771	2nd	2nd Round
2015-2016	33	4	.891	1st	Semifinals
2014-2015	25	17	.619	2nd	2nd Round
2013-2014	25	15	.625	2nd	2nd Round
2012-2013	30	11	.731	2nd	2nd Round
2011-2012	21	21	.500	2nd	1st Round
OVERALL	246	135	.646	---	---