Legendary Air Force Academy hockey coach Frank Serratore announces retirement at end of 2026-27 season
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – U.S. Air Force Academy’s (USAFA) head hockey coach and the program’s all-time win leader Frank Serratore announced Tuesday that the 2026-2027 season will be his last leading the Falcons.
He will retire after 30 seasons with Air Force Hockey.
“”People want to talk about all I have given to the Academy, but the truth is, I have received way more from my time here than I have given, and it’s not close,” Serratore said in a press release. “Both God and Carol know I’m still a work in progress, but I’m a much better coach, father, husband, and person because of this place. I may have played a part in teaching the hockey program how to win on the ice, but the Academy community, and the quality of people I was blessed to interact with every day taught me how to win in life.”
The 2025-26 season was the program’s first winning season since 2018-19, and tied for the most wins since 2017-18.
Serratore is the second-longest active hockey head coach and is 14th on the all-time NCAA win list. He led the program to seven Atlantic Hockey tournament championships, seven NCAA appearances and three NCAA Elite Eights. He was also recognized as the 2016 Atlantic Hockey America Coach of the Year.
The team announced that Associate Head Coach Joe Doyle will be Serratore’s replacement. Doyle has been on Serratore’s staff for 22 seasons and is a former Falcon right-winger. He is also on the Air Force Hockey Wall of Fame.
“Officially being the head coach will not be foreign to Joe, as I’ve had him in the head coach role for quite some time,” Serratore said.
Air Force will open their season on Friday with an exhibition game against Omaha at the Cadet Ice Arena. More information on Serratore’s retirement can be found on the USAFA website.
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