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WEST CHESTER, PA – University of Rhode Island Head Coach Joe Augustine achieved his 500th career win on January 4th with a thrilling 5-3 win on the road over West Chester University. 

Joe Augustine is in his 24th season as Head Coach at the University of Rhode Island.  He brings more than 29 years of experience to the Rhode Island Hockey program both as a player and as a coach.  Under Augustine, Rhode Island has enjoyed a 501-221-45 record, 19 consecutive winning seasons and one ACHA National Championship in 2006. The Rams are the two-time defending Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL) Playoff Champions and won the ESCHL Regular Season Championship in 2008-09 and 2010-11.  Augustine won back-to-back ACHA Men's Division 1 Coach of the Year honors in 2004-05 and 2005-06, and was the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year in 2003-04. Coach Augustine was the head coach for Team USA for the 2009 Winter World University Games in Harbin, China and was an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2006 World University Games in Turin, Italy.  .

The Rams are currently ranked #14 in the country with an overall record of 15-6-3.

Augustine began his coaching career in 1983 as assistant at Tolman HS. After 2 seasons, he was head coach at Shea HS where the Shea HS Raiders skated to a 19-1 record, winning division & state titles. Augustine then spent 2 seasons as assistant coach at Brown University & 1 year as head coach for the CCRI. Augustine joined URI in 1989. While working as a pro advanced scout for the Cornwall Ace’s (AHL) in 1995, the top farm club for Quebec Nordiques (NHL), Augustine was a member of the NCAA Organizational Committee for the 1995 NCAA Ice Hockey Tournament in Providence, RI.

Born & raised in Chicago, Augustine attended & played hockey at Saint Rita HS.  He went on to play JR A for Austin, MN in the USHL. In 59 games, he tallied 10 goals, 43 assists & 189 pims. Those stats earned him a spot on the US Jr. All-American Team selected by the NHL. He was also a member of the US Jr. National Team that played in the World Jr. Tournament held in Winnipeg, Canada.

In 1976, Augustine was selected by the Atlanta Flames in the 7th round & by the Cleveland Crusaders in the 5th. He opted for Boston College helping the Eagles to a Beanpot Championship in 1976, an ECAC Championship & a 2nd place finish in the 1978 NCAA Tournament.  In his 3 seasons with BC, he scored 27 goals & 77 assists for 104 points. He became 1 of only 6 defenseman in BC history to join the 100-point club & amass 196 pims. In recognition towards his outstanding collegiate career, Joe Augustine, was the 58th hockey player to be inducted into the BC Hall of Fame in 1985.

Augustine turned pro after his junior year & played 6 seasons with the Calgary Flames, New York Rangers & the New Jersey Devils. He earned his BS in public administration.  Joe resides in North Scituate, RI with his wife Jewel,l (a former Ice Capades skater), his daughter Jaclyn and son Jon.