Michael Taylor III is no stranger to hockey in the Berkshires. Michael was a product of St Joseph Central High School where he played all 4 years of varsity hockey, winning one Hennessy League Championship & finishing 4th in the state in scoring his Senior Year. Mike then branched off and played one season at the CP Dynamo 18u AAA before heading to the CD Selects Junior program in the EJ. From there Michael went back to Massachusetts to play for the Springfield Jr Pics for two seasons. Mike quickly got into coaching right after his playing career. He was involved in youth hockey in Berkshire County & learn to skate program. He was a part of the rebuild of the Wahconah Warriors Hockey program. Mike joined the program and within two seasons took the program to the Western Mass Finals. Mike has been on the 2006 Academy staff for two seasons. Mike is currently a scout for the Danbury Hat Tricks in the NAHL & Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the QMJHL

Coach Paul Traynor has been involved in hockey for 35 years. A native of Thunder Bay Ontario, he grew up playing AAA hockey for the Thunder Bay Kings

After 3 seasons with Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, Paul was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He then began his professional career playing in over 1,000 games over 16 seasons, including 6 years in the AHL & ECHL, 9 years in Germany and 1 season in Norway. He also represented Team Canada in several international tournaments.

Following his retirement, Paul worked for the ECAC as an on ice official in the Division 1 Mens Hockey Division from 2017-2019.

Paul then transitioned into coaching working for the CP Dynamo out of Clifton Park NY.

Coach Josh Rabbani has been part of the hockey world for over 25 years. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California he began his youth hockey with the LA Jr. Kings.

With the Jr. Kings Josh won back to back USA Hockey Championships at the U-15 and U-16 AAA level playing for the LA Jr. Kings before moving to Detroit Honeybaked for a season. After a year with Honeybaked he then went on to Berkshire Prep where he led the team in scoring for 3 years and was a 2x captain of the Varsity team.

After graduating from Berkshire, Josh went on to play in the NAHL for the St. Louis Bandits winning the Robertson Cup (NAHL National Championship) playing under Coach Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning). From St. Louis Josh was recruited to play NCAA DIV 1 hockey at RPI (ECAC) playing under coaches Seth Appert (Rochester Americans – AHL) and Jim Montgomery (Boston Bruins). Upon graduating with a degree in Business Management, Josh went on to play professionally in Germany for 8 seasons where he also began coaching before returning to the United States.

Last season Josh was a member of the Idaho Falls Spud Kings in the NCDC as an Assistant Coach to Marty Quarters & John Becanic as well as the recruiting coordinator for the Spud Kings in their first season in the NCDC and their first playoff appearance in the NCDC and will also continue to stay on as a scout in the Spud Kings organization.

Coach Jake King, a native of Sheffield, Massachusetts, has been immersed in the game of hockey for over 20 years. Entering his fourth season with Atlantic Coast Academy and his third full year on staff. He has played a key role in ACA’s growth, contributing to the development of a strong, competitive culture as the program continues to attract higher-level players each year.

Jake began his hockey journey at age three with the Berkshire Rattlers before advancing to AAA with the Springfield Rifles (now Springfield Jr. Thunderbirds). While playing AAA, he made the decision at age 13 to leave home and billet in order to attend Cathedral High School (now Pope Francis Prep), where he competed for one of the top high school programs in the state. As a senior, he was awarded the Eddie Shore Award for Western Mass’s most outstanding defenseman, named to the Boston Herald Dream Team, selected for the Shriner’s All-Star Game, and signed a tender with the Boston Junior Bruins during a run to the MIAA Division I state finals.

He went on to play two seasons with the Boston Junior Bruins in the NCDC, winning the Dineen Cup in his rookie year while competing alongside 15 NCAA Division I commits. He also earned an invitation to the Des Moines Buccaneers’ USHL main camp, where he averaged a point per game. Jake was later offered a scholarship to play at Endicott College but ultimately chose to pursue his education at the community college level, funding it independently. He studied Business Administration and earned Dean’s List recognition with a 4.0 GPA in his most recent semester.

Jake began coaching at 21 as the Varsity Head Coach at Mt. Everett High School, where he led the program for two seasons before moving full-time to ACA. In his first year with the academy, he also coached the AC Selects 18U AA split-season team, leading them to a first-place tournament finish and building a strong, unified team culture.

In addition to his coaching duties, Jake helps lead camps, tryouts, and skill development sessions, playing an active role in shaping players both on and off the ice. His commitment to development, attention to detail, and passion for the game continue to make a meaningful impact across the program.

Coach Ryan Secor has been involved in hockey for 25 years. A native of Rensselaer, NY, he grew up playing AAA hockey in the Capitol District and eventually went on to Nazareth College to NCAA Division III Men’s Hockey.

Ryan in 2022-2023 was an Assistant Coach in the USHL with the Madison Capitals under the current USHL Fargo Force Associate Head Coach, Corey Lievermann. Prior to joining the Madision Capitals, he spent three season in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He spent one season coaching in the USPHL for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights, and two season with Wilkes University as Assistant Coach and Director of Scouting.

Ryan has also spent the last 15 years with North American Hockey Systems working with youth hockey to professional players to develop their games. He has developed several players that have gone on to be drafted in USHL, USA Development Program, NCAA Division 1, and Women National Team.

Coach Dan Kearns has been involved in the game of hockey for 40+ years. Coach Kearns played High School Hockey for St Josephs (Pittsfield MA) where he was 3x All League & Regional Goaltender. Coach Kearns lead the Crusaders to back to back State Finals, from there he went on to play under the “Coaching Great” Brian Foster at Trinity Pawling School NY where he still holds the single game save record with 73 in a game vs Avon Old Farms. After TP Coach Kearns went on to play at UMass Dartmouth before suffering a career ending Knee injury. His coaching started at the age of 25 where he coached various age & skill levels. At 29 years old he was hired as the head coach of Taconic High School. In his 6 seasons the Braves qualified for 6 straight District Tournaments, 3 League Titles & 1 District final Championship. From there he went onto coaching AAA Hockey with the New England Falcons (now MassConn) where his 2001 AAA team won the peewee Minor “FED” Championship. Coach Kearns also won the EJEPL AAA 2001 Bantam Minor Championship with the Atlantic Coast Aces. Coach Kearns was a part of the start of Atlantic Coast Hockey Club, over seeing a big portion of the Spring & Summer Program.

Coach Jeromey Rancourt has 22 years of hockey experience. A native of Lewiston, ME joins the academy after finishing his four years at the nationally ranked Plymouth State University Men’s Ice Hockey team. During his time with Plymouth he won 2 MASCAC championships playing just under 100 games due to Covid-19 freshman year. Prior to his collegiate career he grew up playing for his local high school team earning 2 Class A state championships and the Travis Roy Award.

He was also a member of the Maine Moose program where he won two national championships before moving to play for Fox Motors in the U18 Tier 1 elite league. Followed by 2 years with the Twin City Thunder where he landed his commitment to Plymouth. Prior coaching experience Jeromey has actively given back through volunteer work during his playing career. Working with programs such as Lewiston High School, Maine Moose, Maine Gladiators, Hodge Hockey, and Own The Crease. Jeromey is excited to bring his knowledge, work ethic, passion, and leadership to the next generation of players as they develop both on and off the ice.

Christopher Swanson has been involved in hockey for 18 years. As a native of Salisbury, Connecticut he grew up playing for the Salisbury Redhawks before moving on to the AAA level. Shortly before he completed his playing career of four years with the Housatonic Valley Varsity hockey team, he suffered from a stress fracture in his back. Throughout the years Christopher was always interested in the coaching aspect of the game, but after his injury his interests peaked. He then hosted strength training sessions for young athletes at his local gym. Christopher attended Plymouth State University and shortly after, he began coaching hockey to remain a part of the community. He coached skills sessions for AAA youth hockey teams, giving back to the upcoming players of the game. Christopher then provided support to Jake King as he coached the Mt. Everett High School Varsity hockey team. Chris continues to support young hockey players as they grow and develop in and out of the rink.

Coach Jake Hough has been involved with hockey for the past 21 years either playing or coaching. Hailing from Cheat Lake, WV, Hough played his youth hockey in the Morgantown, WV and Pittsburgh, PA areas eventually being recruited to Trinity-Pawling School where he graduated in 2016. After graduating Coach Hough played his junior hockey in the WSHL for the Idaho Icecats and the Ogden Mustangs. Upon finishing his junior hockey, Hough came home to West Virginia to play his college hockey for West Virginia University helping them win back-to-back ACCHL championships in 2024.

  Coach Hough got his start coaching goalies at the Shane Clifford Goalie School, a goalie school that has produced talent that has gone on to play at the highest levels of hockey including the USHL, OHL, NCAA D1, ECHL, AHL, DEL 1, NHL, and other high level leagues. Coaching there since 2015, Hough has worked with goalies of all ages and skill levels developing goalies on and off the ice teaching the fundamentals of goaltending to how to excel at the highest levels of hockey.

Barry Cassevoy is a seasoned hockey player and coach who has recently joined the Atlantic Coast organization. He began his hockey journey in Jamestown, NY, where he played youth hockey with the Jamestown Lakers organization. He played four years of varsity hockey in high school and then moved on to play junior A hockey for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL).

After junior hockey, Barry attended Morrisville State, where he played two years of college hockey and won a National Championship. He also earned an Associate Degree during his time at Morrisville State. He continued to play hockey in college and transferred to Worcester State in Massachusetts to finish his degree.

Since graduating college, Barry has remained active in the hockey community by playing in local men’s leagues and coaching youth hockey teams. Barry, his wife, and their two children reside in Ludlow, MA, where he continues to share his love of hockey by coaching and watching kids grow and learn in their hockey experiences.

Leanne has been an avid hockey fan and has spent most of her adult life involved in youth hockey organizations. Her love of hockey comes from years of watching her nephews and now her own boys grow up on the ice.

Leanne has been an integral part of the Atlantic Coast Organization from the start. She is responsible for the multitude of back-end responsibilities that make up the plethora of programs within AC, such as registrations, contracts, website, USA Hockey, etc…

Aside from AC, Leanne is also on the Board for the Berkshire Bruins youth hockey program as well as the Taconic High School Hockey Booster club.

During normal hours, Leanne is the Director of Infrastructure Operations at an IT Managed Service Consulting company called Independent Connections. She resides in Pittsfield, MA with her husband Matt, and two boys Brayden (16) and Ethan (13).

When not working or living the hockey life, Leanne loves spending quality time with her family in the Berkshires.