Dana Borges

Sun Devil Hockey head coach Greg Powers announced the hiring of Dana Borges as Assistant Coach/Player Development leading into the 2023-24 season on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.   Borges most recently finished his second season as associate head coach at Colgate University. This past season, Borges led the Raiders to their first ECAC Championship in 33 years and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014-15.   "I couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Dana into the Sun Devil Hockey Family. The body of work that Dana put in at Colgate helping guide them to some of their best hockey in the past two decades speaks for itself," said Powers. "His character, work ethic, and all-encompassing ability to improve every aspect of any program he's a part of is why I really targeted Dana for this position. Dana is a budding superstar in the coaching profession and we are instantly better with him now being on our staff alongside associate coach Alex Hicks and another assistant coach hire expected to be finalized in May."   En route to one of the most successful Colgate seasons in the last decade, Borges and team defeated eventual 2023 NCAA Champions Quinnipiac two times in 2022-23.   Borges was hired to Colgate's squad as an assistant coach ahead of the 2018-19 season and elevated to associate head coach prior to the start of the 2021-22 season. He also served as the Raiders volunteer assistant coach for the 2016-17 season.   During his time at Colgate, Borges was tasked with restoring a historic program to the university's standard of excellence. Priding himself on being a teacher and developer of players, Borges jumped right into the recruitment strategy for the Raiders. In four years, Borges was able to increase the caliber of players arriving on campus, install a player-centered development model, and help restore the team culture and identity.   In his niche of player development, Borges understands his role requires a daily commitment to bring positive energy, creativity, passion and build trust. On the ice, Borges created a learning environment that players can navigate through: cultivating their problem-solving skills, championing their ability to find solutions, asking and encouraging player input and ultimately giving players complete ownership of their development. "Sun Devil Hockey possesses all the necessary qualities to continually be a top program in the country.  The passion, trust, and commitment to excellence was evident the moment I began speaking with Coach Powers," said Borges. "ASU provides an environment focused on the wholistic development of the student-athletes to thrive in all areas of their life. Being in position to attract and develop the very best student-athletes in the world to this type of environment is such an exciting opportunity. Coach Powers and his staff have made unprecedented achievements in such a short amount of time. I am grateful for the opportunity to help build upon these successes and begin my journey; Be The Tradition."   Borges' Accomplishments at Colgate 2022 ECAC Semi Finalist (Lake Placid) 2023 ECAC Champions Finished t2022/23 season ranked No. 18 in the Country 2 First Team ECAC Selections (Josh McKechney 2021, Alex Young 2023) Scholar Athlete of the Year (Matt Verboon 2023) Over a dozen pro contracts signed: highlighted by Bobby McMann (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Matt Verboon Swiss A League 2 NHL Draft Picks: Carter Gylander (Detroit) Alex Young (San Jose)   Before coming to Hamilton, Borges joined the University of Alaska-Anchorage men's hockey program as an assistant coach from June 2018 through August 2018. Prior to Anchorage, Borges spent the 2017-18 season at Williams College (MA) as an assistant coach. His primary duties included recruiting coordination, on-ice skill development, video analysis, working with the defensemen/goalies, and coordinating the power play.   Williams College finished the season at 14-11-1 making a run to the conference semifinals.   Getting his start in collegiate coaching, Borges spent two seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Stonehill College. The Skyhawks went 42-25-8 over his two and a half seasons as an assistant, winning three straight NE-10 regular season titles and the 2016 Northeast-10 Conference Championship.   Over the same time period, Borges has served as the USA Hockey Associate Coach in Chief for the Massachusetts District-Director of ADM and continues to be heavily involved with USA Hockey working both District and National Development Camps each summer.     From 2009-13, Borges played with the Skyhawks where he served as captain for his junior and senior seasons. Borges was named the Northeast-10 Man of the Year in 2013 as well as a Capital One All-American. He was also awarded the Father Jack McCarthy Award and Edward E. Martin Outstanding Student-Athlete Award from Stonehill College as well as finishing as a semifinalist for the Joseph Concannon Award which is annually given to the Top DIII American-born ice hockey player.   A four-year letter winner at Stonehill, Borges served as a two-time captain and was named the Northeast-10 Man of the Year in 2013 as well as a Capital One All-American. The forward was a semifinalist for the Joseph Concannon Award, which is annually given to the Top DII-III American born ice hockey player in New England.   On the ice, Borges recorded 29 goals and 58 assists for 87 career points while with Stonehill; including a career-high 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points his senior season.   After his successful collegiate career at Stonehill, Borges played professionally for one season with the Evry Peaux Rouges of the French Division.   A native of Taunton, Massachusetts, Borges graduated Magna Cum Laude from Stonehill in 2013 with a degree in sociology.