After Jerry York Broke NCAA Record, He Celebrated with Pizza

Jerry York photo courtesy of Boston College Media Relations

When Boston College hockey coach Jerry York notched his NCAA record-breaking 925th career victory on December 29, Twitter lit up with messages offering congratulations. People seemed especially excited about how York chose to celebrate the milestone. Not with a cigar or a Gatorade shower or champagne—but with pizza. After the No. 1 ranked Eagles beat Alabama-Huntsville, 5-2, at a tournament in Minneapolis, York succinctly explained his plans: “Campus Pizza. Pepperoni.”

So that night, he and his team had a pizza party. (I assume Campus Pizza, near the University of Minnesota, is at least slightly classier than Mary Ann’s.) Campus Pizza general manager Brian Abrahamson was working that evening. He said York “was in a very good mood. All smiles.” How can you not root for a guy who loves pizza?

“It was a little bittersweet,” said Abrahamson, who wished York good luck despite the fact that BC was playing his beloved U of M the next day. “Being a Gopher fan it was a little tough to say. But you want to be appreciative.”

With apologies to his counterpart at Boston University and Bill Belichick, the 67-year-old York is New England’s best coach. The day after York set the wins record, the Globe’s Nancy Marrapese-Burrell ticked off his impressive resume:

York led BC to NCAA championships in 2001, 2008, 2010, and 2012, in addition to the one he earned with Bowling Green in 1984.

BC has been to 10 Frozen Fours during York’s tenure, including eight in the last 13 years.

He has helped the school capture nine Hockey East titles, with six in the last eight seasons.

York, however, remains gruffly and defiantly modest. It doesn’t feel like shtick, either.

“I’m the exact same way, and I am not going to place my personal stuff out there, either,” he told The New York Times. “It is not who I am. Sure, we want to win games, but I have never chased records. Someday, when I’m sitting on my front porch, I might think about it. But not now.”

For now, he’d rather keep winning games. And eating pizza.