University of Massachusets Athletics
James Marcou Returns To Alma Mater As Assistant Coach
May 11, 2026 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. – Former standout University of Massachusetts hockey forward James Marcou has returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach, head coach Greg Carvel announced on Monday. Marcou, a 2009 second team All-American and UMass career assists leader, joins Carvel's staff after most recently spending seven seasons at Harvard as an assistant coach for the Crimson.
"I am very excited to welcome James back into the UMass hockey family," said Carvel. "James is one of the all-time greatest players to wear the Minuteman jersey, and he has always been a loyal supporter of our program. As an elite college hockey player, I expect him to serve as an important part of the skill development of our players. Also, I had the pleasure of working closely with James during my first two years at UMass while he served as our volunteer coach, so I am very familiar with his intelligence, work ethic and warm personality. Finally, James has been serving as the top recruiter at Harvard for the last number of years and has built a strong reputation amongst people who matter in the recruiting world. James will be an excellent addition to our program."
"I'm thrilled to be back at UMass, said Marcou. "Coach Carvel has built something really remarkable here, and I'm excited to be a part of it. I can't wait to get started and help the program continue to grow."
During his tenure with the Crimson, Marcou was responsible for coaching the team's forward group and power play. He helped recruit, develop and coach nine future NHLers, five All-Americans and two Olympians while at Harvard. During the 2022-23 campaign, the Crimson earned an NCAA berth with 15 NHL draft picks on their roster, the most in the nation that season. In 2021-22, Marcou was part of a staff that coached Harvard to ECAC and Ivy League titles as well as an NCAA tournament appearance.
In his first season with Harvard, Marcou oversaw a Crimson power play that led all NCAA Division I programs in 2019-20 at 31.2% (34-for-109), recording a power play goal in 24 of 31 games.
Marcou previously worked as an assistant coach at Brown, where he helped the Bears record their first winning season since 2012-13. The Huntington, N.Y. native guided Brown to ECAC Hockey championship weekend for the first time since 2013.
Marcou began his collegiate coaching career in 2016 as a graduate assistant under Carvel, aiding the UMass staff in all aspects of the program over the course of two seasons.
Marcou, a 2015 graduate of the Isenberg School of Management, was UMass' sixth All-American in program history with his AHCA Second-Team nod following his sophomore season (2008-09). His 35 points during the conference campaign tied him for the Hockey East scoring title, the first Minuteman to ever lead the league in points. He finished the year with 47 points on 15 goals and 32 assists. His 32 assists set a then-UMass single-season record, while his 47 points ranked fourth all-time.
A two-time All-Hockey East performer and New England Hockey Writers All-Star, Marcou broke his own school record for single-season assists (40) as a junior in 2009-10. Marcou currently ranks fifth among UMass' all-time scorers with 130 points in 111 games played.
