Gaudet took over Brown’s coaching reins in 1988 and immediately went about transforming the Bears from a perennial cellar-dweller into one of the ECAC’s top programs. During his tenure, Brown steadily climbed in the league standings, from 12th in ’89 to 8th in ’90 and ’91, 5th in ’92, 3rd in ’93, 4th in ’94 and all the way to 2nd in ’95. Gaudet has begun the same process at Dartmouth. The Big Green finished 11th his first two years, eighth in 2000 and fifth last season.

During Gaudet’s time at Brown, the Bears were crowned Ivy League champions twice (1991 and 1995) and, in 1993, made the school’s first NCAA appearance since 1976. In both 1993 and 1995, he was a finalist for Division I Coach of the Year honors. He was named ECAC Coach of the Year in 1995 after leading Brown to a second-place finish in the league, just one-and-a-half games behind first-place Clarkson. The Bears also spent much of the year in and out of the top 10 in the national polls.

Gaudet’s career coaching record stands at a respectable 139-203-46.

Gaudet originally came to Brown in 1988 following a five-year tenure as an assistant coach at Dartmouth. He assisted in all aspects of the Big Green hockey program under head coaches George Crowe and Brian Mason while coordinating recruiting efforts and serving as varsity goaltender coach. In addition, he directed the junior varsity program his first season at Dartmouth.

Gaudet graduated in 1981 with a degree in visual arts after four productive seasons for the Big Green hockey team. In 1979 and 1980, Gaudet led the Big Green to Ivy League titles and appearances in the NCAA Final Four. As a senior, he served as co-captain and was a recipient of the Philip D. McInnis Award for spirit, loyalty and dedication to Dartmouth ice hockey. In 76 career games, he made a school-record 2,129 saves while allowing only 299 goals for a 4.00 career goals against average and an .877 save percentage. He had his most successful campaign as a sophomore when he recorded two of his four career shutouts to go along with a 3.03 goals against average. He was first team All-Ivy in 1978-79 and 1979-80, and was a two-time recipient of the Canterbury Society Award for the best Ivy League goalie.

Following graduation, Gaudet signed a free-agent contract with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. He played for minor league affiliates of Winnipeg in the CHL and IHL for one year before a knee injury cut short his promising career.

In the summer of 1990, Gaudet served as the assistant coach of the East team in the Olympic Sports Festival, held in Minneapolis. In 1994, he served again as head coach of the East team, and also coached the East All-Star Team in the East-West Shrine College Hockey Classic. Gaudet spent the summer of 1998 behind the bench of the New England Select 16-Team at USA Hockey’s Summer Festival in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Gaudet and his wife Lynne – also a 1981 Dartmouth graduate – reside in Hanover with their three children: sons Joey (14) and Jimmy (12) plus daughter Kelly (6).

Bob Gaudet On Dartmouth: "I am honored and proud to be at Dartmouth College as the men’s hockey coach. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to play on some of the most successful teams in school history, and know that the experience of playing game after game in front of 4,000 screaming fans at Thompson Arena is electric. The popularity of the game in the Upper Valley, combined with a picturesque winter environment and one of the top facilities in college hockey, gives us as attractive a package as any in college hockey. As such, I am committed to returning our program to national prominence.

"Dartmouth offers the perfect environment for combining high-level academics with Division I hockey, with time left to explore and enjoy the unlimited opportunities available both academically and athletically. It holds a unique spirit and camaraderie that is contagious.

"As a Dartmouth graduate, I know firsthand what an impact the ‘Dartmouth Family’ can have on one’s life. I owe a great deal to the College and the doors that have been opened as a result of my association with such a great institution. This is truly a community, where students, professors, administrators and coaches interact on a daily basis in a perfect college environment.

"Finally, I could not be more excited about our coaching staff. I have worked with Dave Peters and Brendan Whittet in the past and feel that they are two of the finest coaches and evaluators of talent in the business. As a staff, we have more than 20 years of coaching experience, and our goal here at Dartmouth is to foster an environment that allows our players to be their best...and play with one heartbeat."