Coaching Staff

Aaron Saul '98 enters his first season as the Head Men’s Hockey Coach.  Saul, a 1998 graduate of Elmira College becomes the first alumnus in the 35 year history of the program to assume the role as Head Coach.  Overall, Saul has been coaching collegiate hockey for the past 11 years.

Although this will be his first season as Head Coach, Saul has considerable experience behind the Soaring Eagle bench as he spent six years as an Assistant to former Head Coach Tim Ceglarski.  In his tenure with the Purple and Gold, Saul helped lead the Soaring Eagles to two ECAC West Championships, as well as two NCAA Tournament appearances including a birth in the 2005-06 National Semifinals. 

Prior to Elmira, Saul spent the last two years as head coach of Potsdam State.  While at Potsdam, Saul guided the Bears to 19-25-9 record including appearances in the SUNYAC semifinal in ’08 and quarterfinal in ’09.  He was named the SUNYAC Coach of the Year following the 2007-08 season. 

Saul was a member of the Soaring Eagles hockey team from 1994-98.  As a student-athlete he participated in the 1997 NCAA Tournament, three ECAC Tournaments, was a member of the 1997 ECAC West Championship team and served as a captain for two seasons.  He was named Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player during his career.  The Saul family is a legacy at Elmira College.  Saul’s younger brother Adrian ’00 played for the Soaring Eagles and was a captain during his final two seasons as well.

 Coach Saul resides in Elmira, NY with his wife, Julia ’00 and twins, Charlotte and Nolan.

Dean Jackson ’03 enters his third year as the Head Men’s Golf Coach and Assistant Men’s Ice Hockey Coach at Elmira College.

A successful first season for Coach Jackson was headlined by a second-place finish in the Empire 8 Golf Championships last September.

Jackson returns to Elmira College where he enjoyed one of the most successful playing careers in the thirty-four year history of the Elmira College Men’s Ice Hockey program. While playing for the Soaring Eagles from 1999 – 2003, Jackson became a member of the prestigious 100 point club in 2003, garnered ECAC West Rookie of the Year honors in 1999, was named to the ECAC West All-Conference Second Team in 2003, and was named the ECAC West Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in 2003. Additionally, Jackson captained the 2003 edition of the Purple and Gold, en route to being named the Elmira College Men’s Ice Hockey Booster Club Player of the Year.

In addition to competing as a standout forward with the Men’s Hockey program, Jackson was also a four year member of the Soaring Eagles Men’s Golf team.

Following a distinguished playing career for the Soaring Eagles Jackson went on to play professionally. During his professional career, he saw action with the Elmira Jackals of the UHL, and later with the Fayetteville Fireantz and Richmond Renegades of the SPHL. In 2005, Jackson was named the Southern Professional Hockey League Player of the Month in November, and in 2006, he was named a Southern Professional Hockey League All-Star following the 2005-2006 season.

During both his collegiate and professional career, Jackson has also served as a head instructor and program coordinator for World Class Hockey Development Canada. During his time with World Class Hockey Development Canada, Jackson served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Additionally, he has been responsible for program and staff management, and has been instrumental in the planning of camps and development of junior instructors.

Jackson graduated from Elmira College in 2003 with a S.B. in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing.

Dean Jackson ’03 enters his third year as the Head Men’s Golf Coach and Assistant Men’s Ice Hockey Coach at Elmira College.

Jackson was a four year member of the Elmira College Men’s Golf team during his undergraduate studies.

Jackson remains at the helm of the Men’s Golf program after completing one of the most successful and exciting seasons in Elmira College Men’s Golf history. Jackson’s team competed in 15 total events where they had 9 top 5 finishes, 5 top 10 finishes, and 4 tournament wins. In addition, Jackson’s team was one of the top 15 programs out of 70 programs in the region which granted them to participate in the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships.

Jackson coached his team to a second place finish at the Empire 8 Conference Championships. This was the best finish in the conference tournament in Elmira College Men’s Golf history. Through the guidance of Coach Jackson, his players were awarded several different accolades. These included one First Team All-Conference golfer, two Second Team All-Conference golfers, the Empire 8 Player of the Year, the ECAC Player of the Year, and a Ping All-American.

Coach Jackson also led his team to school records as well. During the Nazareth/Hobart Invitational, Elmira College broke the all-time EC team score with an astonishing 298. In addition to his player’s achievements, Jackson himself earned the very prestigious Empire 8 Coach of the Year award during the 2008-09 campaign. It is clear that the future for the Men’s Golf program is very bright.

Additionally, he has been responsible for program and staff management, and has been instrumental in the planning of camps and development of junior instructors.

Jackson graduated from Elmira College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Marketing.