Merrimack's One-Two Punch: The People Behind the Benches

Scott Borek and Joe Gallo have taken their programs to new, never-before-seen heights

Many things make Merrimack College a special place. Ultimately, though, it’s the people who matter most.

Merrimack is fortunate to have two of the best in their professions — Joe Gallo and Scott Borek — leading two of the most visible programs on campus.

It was impossible not to notice how involved Gallo was with the hockey program this weekend. At Borek’s request, he addressed the team after Friday night’s game. If you haven’t seen the video, it’s worth your time.

Then, on Saturday night, he was on the ice celebrating alongside the rest of the Warriors — even hoisting the trophy over his head while wearing a yellow Merrimack headband.

The visual was striking, because scenes like that don’t happen just anywhere. Would you see Dan Hurley on the ice celebrating with Mike Cavanaugh if UConn had won a championship? Hurley, of course, was in the NCAA Tournament, but rhetorically speaking, it’s hard to imagine.

Gallo signed a 10-year extension last season, and there has been — and likely will continue to be — interest from larger programs. Eventually, the right opportunity may come. But Saturday night made one thing clear: he bleeds blue and gold. He doesn’t just love Merrimack basketball — he loves Merrimack College.

That kind of investment isn’t universal.

On the men’s hockey side, Borek authored a season worthy of Hockey East Coach of the Year honors. Frankly, he had a case in 2023 as well. It’s another reminder that perhaps postseason results should factor into award voting.

Borek has taken a program long overshadowed by powers like Boston College and Boston University and, alongside his staff — Dan Jewell, Ryan Durocher, and David Woodford — turned it into a championship-caliber operation.

Like Gallo, Borek leans heavily on his staff and is quick to credit them. As he often says, his assistants “shop for the groceries.”

The Warriors roster has the most NHL picks ever assembled in blue and gold this season, and Filip Nordberg is the highest-drafted player in the program’s history (second round). That’s a credit to the coaches assembling the roster.

Merrimack should do everything in its power to keep both coaches in North Andover for as long as possible.

As long as Gallo is pacing the sideline, the Warriors will be in position to compete for conference titles.

As long as Borek is behind the bench, Merrimack will find ways to go toe-to-toe with the best in Hockey East.

Will they win championships every year? Probably not. They’re competing against some of the largest budgets in college hockey. But they’ll be in the mix — and that, historically, hasn’t been a given at Merrimack.

This year’s team already ranks among the best in program history, with the third-most wins in its 37-year tenure as a Hockey East member — and the season isn’t over.

By the way, Borek now owns two of the top-three highest-win totals since Merrimack joined Hockey East.

The program has reached the Hockey East final three times, with two of those appearances coming under Borek in the last three years.

It has made four NCAA Tournament appearances overall, two of them during Borek’s tenure.

What’s happening in hockey mirrors what’s unfolding on the basketball side.

Together, those programs have become powerful marketing arms for the college.

Just look at TD Garden this weekend. Hockey East announced a crowd of nearly 16,000 on Saturday night, and it felt like at least three-quarters of the building was clad in Merrimack colors.

It was the first time since 2006 that the tournament drew 15,000 or more fans on consecutive nights — Merrimack played in both games — and it was the third-highest combined attendance ever.

That’s real engagement. And it’s a credit to Merrimack.

The basketball game against Siena at Lawler Arena — broadcast on ESPN — delivered one of the most electric environments of the season and drew rave reviews.

That’s real exposure.

That’s the value athletics can bring to a campus.

Borek touched on it in his postgame press conference Saturday night.

“I’ve coached at a number of places,” he said, “and where else would the basketball coach be on the ice celebrating with the hockey team? Those roles can be contentious at some places, but not here. We all support each other. That’s what makes Merrimack unique.”

The people.

And Merrimack has two of the best.

Gallo’s 10-year extension last spring was well-earned.

Borek last signed an extension in 2022. The details weren’t made public, so the timeline remains unclear.

Here’s hoping Merrimack can keep this dynamic duo together for years to come.

Special things are already happening — and there’s still plenty of room in the trophy case.