Sports Law Professor to Coach Hockey Team

Hiram Athletics has announced the addition of three new varsity sports, including one that will be coached by a sports law professor.

Dr. Jeffrey Curto, a member of the Sports and Recreation Law Association, will coach the school’s first men’s ice hockey team in Hiram history, which begins play in the 2025-26 season.

“I’m honored that Hiram College and Scott Pohlman selected me as the first head coach for the new men’s hockey program at Hiram College,” Dr. Curto said. “Becoming the only NCAA Division III hockey program in the state of Ohio gives players from Ohio a chance to play at a high level, stay in the state and gain a tremendous education.”

Prior to coaching at Hiram, Dr. Curto was the associate head coach of the Eastern Kentucky University Division III ACHA hockey team in Richmond, Kentucky in 2016. While at EKU, the Colonels won their first ever Bourbon Barrel Trophy, which was played annually against the University of Kentucky. The Colonels also played in the Indiana Collegiate Hockey Conference Championship game against Indiana University.

Hiram men’s ice hockey will host games at “The Pond – Ice Rink & Sports Complex” in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Dr. Curto will begin serving as head coach in 2024-25 before the team officially takes the ice the following academic year.