Coaching Staff

Coach Hoos is entering his 13th season as head coach for the Ice Dogs, having led Georgia to 12 seasons at .500 or better, and post-season play in ten of those seasons. Under Coach Hoos, Georgia has earned 7 ACHA national tournament entries, including an ACHA national championship game in 2004. Georgia brought home it’s first ever hockey championship with Hoos behind the bench winning the 2000 Thrasher Cup at the Memorial Health Hockey Classic in Savannah, GA, and has won the tournament 4 times since. Originally from Birmingham, MI, “Hoos” was a high school stand out at Cranbrook High School, and played Junior A hockey with the Bloomfield Jets in Detroit, competing against NHL stars Eric Lindros and Brian Holzinger, among others. After moving to warmer climates, Coach Hoos served as Georgia’s player-president during his playing career with the Ice Dogs, and has been integral in advancing the team, serving on league boards, promoting hockey in the South, and most recently as a leading organizer of the SEC Hockey Conference. Coach Hoos has secured high profile events such as College Hockey Night in the Philips Arena, the Omni, and the new Gwinnett Center Arena in conjunction with the Atlanta Thrashers, Atlanta Knights, and Gwinnett Gladiators, and was integral in the formation of the annual Savannah Hockey Classic, the annual Georgia/Florida hockey game played in Jacksonville, FL, and the College Hockey Clash in Columbus, GA. Coach Hoos was a standout player at Georgia. Playing both as a defenseman and center, Hoos was surpassed in 2003 as the all-time career points leader for UGA, but remains one of the Ice Dogs career leaders in points-per-game. Hoos was a four-time College Hockey South All-Star, and is well known as having been one of the leagues’ best play-makers, top goal scorers, and hardest hitters.

Coach Beneke returned to the Ice Dogs in 2003, and is now in his 11th full year as an assistant coach. In addition to his booming voice on the bench and practice ice, “Stevie B” brings a variety of experience to the team. Beneke played Junior semi-pro hockey in the Midwest, and then attended University of Massachusetts. Steve began his coaching with the Jr. Capitals in Washington, D.C. in 1990-93. Steve then moved west to work for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks NHL franchise for three seasons before moving to Georgia. Although Steve’s hockey playing experience lies between the pipes as a goaltender, he assists with all facets of the game, and boasts a 5-2-2 record as the head skipper behind the bench. For many years Steve has been an emotional leader with a big heart on the Dogs coaching staff, on and off the ice.

Gus Saponari returns for his second season with UGA Hockey, brining with him vast experience as a player and coach. Coach Saponari hails from Wellington, Ohio, where he was the youngest of 14 siblings. Following high school and Jr. hockey, Gus earned a walk-on tryout at Bowling Green University in Ohio, then coached by current Boston College head coach Jerry York. After a heartfelt tryout, Gus wound up on the club team which served as the JV team. During his years there,  Bowling Green contended for several NCAA national championships. Gus also played for and managed the Rugby club at Bowling Green. After moving to Powder Springs, GA, Gus coached hockey at various levels in the advanced youth hockey programs across Atlanta and the southeast, and was the principle owner of the Marietta Ice Center (The MIC) until he sold the business in 2007. Under his tooteledge on and off the ice, both of Coach Saponari's sons obtained scholarships to play hockey at Boston University, and both won a national championship with the team in 2009.