University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Athletics Announces John F. Kennedy MS '76 Gift for Head Hockey Coach Endowment
September 28, 2026 | Hockey, Athletics Department
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts athletics department is proud to announce a gift by John F. Kennedy MS '76 to endow the head hockey coach position, the first endowed coaching position in UMass Athletics history.
The announcement is being made in conjunction with UMass Lowell Athletics, as Kennedy had made an equal gift to also endow the head hockey coach position there, with each campus being supported by separate $2.5M gifts.
"Making these gifts is important and meaningful to me because I have a deep appreciation for both hockey programs," Kennedy said. "Just as importantly, I consider both coaches very good friends. Greg is such a dynamic person, and I've come to greatly respect and admire the work he has done on the Amherst campus. I was thrilled to be part of the national championship team's journey, even in a small way. Norm, whom I've known for more than 15 years, is simply a fantastic coach who continues to build winning teams year after year at Lowell. Both coaches are exceptional leaders who deserve our support, and I'm proud to make this gift to support their programs."
"We are grateful to John for his remarkable generosity to create the first-ever head coaching endowment for our athletics department," said UMass Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. "His support for the two institutions that helped shape him continues to have a transformational impact on the coaches and student athletes at the Flagship campus. Moreover, his passion for our program and belief in what Coach Carvel has built is unparalleled. This endowment will help strengthen the pathway for sustained success. With John's loyal support, our lofty ambitions to compete for national championships in ice hockey will always be within reach."
Kennedy has developed a deep connection with UMass head coach Greg Carvel and his program, which is rooted in a culture of accountability, integrity and sustained success that define UMass hockey. Kennedy holds the program to the highest standards of excellence and draws inspiration from Carvel's leadership and ability to build a nationally competitive program centered on the student-athlete experience.
"During my time at UMass, many have worked diligently to build the foundations of an elite college hockey program," said UMass Head Hockey Coach Greg Carvel. "No one has been more influential in this regard than John Kennedy. His continual support of myself and our hockey program, in every possible manner, has helped make my time at UMass exceptionally unique. My regard for John is unmatched, and thus, it is a humbling honor to be named the John F. Kennedy Head Hockey Coach at the University of Massachusetts. John is a proud alumnus of our University System, a profoundly generous benefactor, and simply a wonderful human being that I get to call my friend. Since my arrival at UMass, I have witnessed JFK continually make an impact on our university in many ways. This is just the next level for him, and we are forever grateful to him."
A long-time generous benefactor of the athletics department at both the Amherst and Lowell campuses, John F. Kennedy holds multiple degrees from the UMass system, including a bachelor's in mathematics from the Lowell campus (then known as Lowell Technological Institute) in 1970 and a master's in accounting from the Flagship campus in Amherst in 1976. The Naples, Florida, resident is the retired president and CFO of Nova Ventures Corp. of Woburn, Massachusetts. In the spring of 2014, Kennedy was awarded the UMass Amherst Distinguished Achievement Award. Additionally, he is the past president of the UMass Amherst Foundation.
Kennedy's philanthropic impact can be felt across the Flagship campus. He made one of the first gifts to the Script U Scholarship Society, contributing $1 million to support the launch. He also made the lead gift for the now named John Francis Kennedy Champions Center for UMass Basketball, the department's state-of-the-art training facility for the men's and women's basketball programs. He also funded the Kennedy Challenge Cup, has made multiple gifts to support Massachusetts Hockey, established the Kennedy Family Scholarship, and endowed a professorship in the Isenberg School of Management.
The announcement is being made in conjunction with UMass Lowell Athletics, as Kennedy had made an equal gift to also endow the head hockey coach position there, with each campus being supported by separate $2.5M gifts.
"Making these gifts is important and meaningful to me because I have a deep appreciation for both hockey programs," Kennedy said. "Just as importantly, I consider both coaches very good friends. Greg is such a dynamic person, and I've come to greatly respect and admire the work he has done on the Amherst campus. I was thrilled to be part of the national championship team's journey, even in a small way. Norm, whom I've known for more than 15 years, is simply a fantastic coach who continues to build winning teams year after year at Lowell. Both coaches are exceptional leaders who deserve our support, and I'm proud to make this gift to support their programs."
"We are grateful to John for his remarkable generosity to create the first-ever head coaching endowment for our athletics department," said UMass Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. "His support for the two institutions that helped shape him continues to have a transformational impact on the coaches and student athletes at the Flagship campus. Moreover, his passion for our program and belief in what Coach Carvel has built is unparalleled. This endowment will help strengthen the pathway for sustained success. With John's loyal support, our lofty ambitions to compete for national championships in ice hockey will always be within reach."
Kennedy has developed a deep connection with UMass head coach Greg Carvel and his program, which is rooted in a culture of accountability, integrity and sustained success that define UMass hockey. Kennedy holds the program to the highest standards of excellence and draws inspiration from Carvel's leadership and ability to build a nationally competitive program centered on the student-athlete experience.
"During my time at UMass, many have worked diligently to build the foundations of an elite college hockey program," said UMass Head Hockey Coach Greg Carvel. "No one has been more influential in this regard than John Kennedy. His continual support of myself and our hockey program, in every possible manner, has helped make my time at UMass exceptionally unique. My regard for John is unmatched, and thus, it is a humbling honor to be named the John F. Kennedy Head Hockey Coach at the University of Massachusetts. John is a proud alumnus of our University System, a profoundly generous benefactor, and simply a wonderful human being that I get to call my friend. Since my arrival at UMass, I have witnessed JFK continually make an impact on our university in many ways. This is just the next level for him, and we are forever grateful to him."
A long-time generous benefactor of the athletics department at both the Amherst and Lowell campuses, John F. Kennedy holds multiple degrees from the UMass system, including a bachelor's in mathematics from the Lowell campus (then known as Lowell Technological Institute) in 1970 and a master's in accounting from the Flagship campus in Amherst in 1976. The Naples, Florida, resident is the retired president and CFO of Nova Ventures Corp. of Woburn, Massachusetts. In the spring of 2014, Kennedy was awarded the UMass Amherst Distinguished Achievement Award. Additionally, he is the past president of the UMass Amherst Foundation.
Kennedy's philanthropic impact can be felt across the Flagship campus. He made one of the first gifts to the Script U Scholarship Society, contributing $1 million to support the launch. He also made the lead gift for the now named John Francis Kennedy Champions Center for UMass Basketball, the department's state-of-the-art training facility for the men's and women's basketball programs. He also funded the Kennedy Challenge Cup, has made multiple gifts to support Massachusetts Hockey, established the Kennedy Family Scholarship, and endowed a professorship in the Isenberg School of Management.
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