"I think I balance academics and athletics very well, and I know that winning is important," Mazzoleni said. "I'm not paid to put an inferior program on the ice because our fans want to see a winner.

"Our kids come here because they want to go to the greatest academic school in the world, but they also have a passion for hockey and a passion for winning," he added. "I felt philosophically it was very consistent with what I believe in."

Mazzoleni is well aware of the effort it takes to balance an academic workload and an athletic career in college. As a senior at Michigan State, he was awarded the Blue Line President's Award, presented to the team's top scholar-athlete.

Besides preserving the competing notions of academics and athletics, Mazzoleni is determined to continue the trend of his coaching career and turn around the Harvard program.

Last year, the Crimson suffered its worst start in school history, opening up with a record of 0-8-1, and finishing the year off under .500 at 14-16-2 overall.

"I want to establish a program that Harvard and the Cambridge community can take pride in," Mazzoleni said. "I think it's very possible to return this team to national prominence at a Division I level."

Harvard is quite capable of excelling in both the ECAC and on a national level, as evidenced by its NCAA Championship ten years ago. With the depth and talent the Crimson boasts this year, both with its veterans and new recruits, Harvard should be a force to reckon with on the ice.