Austin Prep names boys hockey head coach

Austin Preparatory School in Reading is pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Pappas of Andover to the position of Head Coach of Boys Ice Hockey.

Pappas has been assistant coach for the school’s boys hockey program for six years, serving with longtime Head Coach Louis Finocchiaro, who retired in May after 14 years.

“We are confident that Coach Pappas has the experience and expertise to lead our program into the future,” said Director of Athletics Jonathan Pollard. He added that Pappas’ familiarity and existing relationships with players puts him in a position to expedite the advancement of the school’s tremendously successful boys hockey program.

Steve MacAdams will be returning to the program as assistant coach, supporting Pappas as he transitions into the head coaching position. MacAdams has also been with the program for six years.

In his role as assistant coach, Pappas worked with the varsity players on defense, helping lead the 2016-2017 team to the Division I state tournament and go undefeated in the Catholic Central League (Austin Prep was crowned CCL champs). Since joining the school in 2012, the team has made numerous appearances in the elite Super Eight invitational tournament and added several CCL titles to the list of accomplishments.

“It’s been a great run working with Lou Finocchiaro,” Pappas said. “Steve and I look forward to keeping the great Austin Prep tradition going.”

His impressive hockey coaching resume also includes being an assistant skills coach for the Valley Junior Warriors, a Haverhill youth team, and a private skills coach for children ages 5-18. Previously, Pappas served as an assistant coach for Wilmington and Newburyport youth teams, and the Braves, a North Andover youth team he helped lead to the USA National Hockey Championships.

Pappas works as a sales manager at the Martignetti Companies in Taunton, Mass.