Hall of Fame
WALT DeANNA – Hockey Coach 1966-88
The University of Dayton Hall of Fame, and in truth, any Hall of Fame, is the kind of fraternity that is made up of individuals who were the best in a certain sport, or individuals who led their teams to unprecedented accomplishments. And in some cases, members are the kinds of people who, when you think about their sport, you simply cannot do so without also thinking of them. That is most certainly the case of the University of Dayton hockey program and its first varsity coach Walt DeAnna.
DeAnna was a team captain for the Flyer club hockey team, and after he graduated from UD in 1962, he began teaching and coaching. He was instrumental in elevating the hockey program to varsity status in 1966. In 22 years as the varsity coach, he compiled a record of 211-107-16. Under DeAnna, the Flyers won four league championships in the Ohio Collegiate Hockey Association and Midwest College Hockey Association.
Beyond the accomplishments on the ice, the Windsor, Ont. native managed every aspect of the UD hockey program, and even served as league commissioner of the MCHA for eight years. Thanks to his drive and dedication, the Flyer hockey program provided opportunities for hundreds of young men at the University of Dayton. DeAnna was not only their coach, but also a mentor and personal friend to them.
More than 100 of them will travel from all over the country to be in attendance on Saturday, an unprecedented number for one individual at UD's annual Hall of Fame game.
