Dave Aiello wrote, "The Albany Times Union reported yesterday that Rensselaer Women's Hockey Coach Bill Cahill passed away of a heart attack on Sunday at age 53. Bill was a friend and mentor to many people who were involved in men's and women's ice hockey at Rensselaer over the past 15 years. He served as assistant coach of the men's team under Mike Addesa during my senior year. He later served as the interim coach after Coach Addesa resigned, and as an assistant to Buddy Powers and Dan Fridgen."

"Bill assumed the role of head coach of the women's team in 2000, at the behest of Bob Ducatte, Rensselaer's athletic director at the time. An article that appeared in last week's edition of The Poly points out Cahill's achievements as women's head coach in the past year:"

• school record for wins last season (20-7 overall)
• school record for consecutive home victories, 11
• ECAC Coach of the Year for 2002-2003
• finalist for ACHA Division III Women's Coach of the Year

"Although the Times Union extensively quotes Dan Fridgen, neither of these articles give the players' perspective on the loss of Bill Cahill. I can't speak for members of the women's team, who lost the only head coach that their program has had since it achieved varsity status. But, everybody I know from the men's teams over the years loved to work with Bill. He was a man who always seemed to find a way to make people feel better about their circumstances. As Coach Fridgen said in the Times Union, he was very supportive of everyone with whom he worked."

"This is a terrible loss for the Women's Hockey Team, the Athletic Department, and the Rensselaer community. If any details of funeral arrangements are provided to the public, I will post them as an update to this story."

Update: Kevin Beattie, Rensselaer's Sports Information Director told us, "Viewing hours will be Thursday from 4-8pm at Athy Funeral Home at 111 Lancaster Street in Worcester. The funeral will be held on Friday morning at 11am at Blessed Sacrament Church on Pleasant Street in Worcester. In lieu of flowers, gifts should be made payable to Let's Go Red-Women's Hockey and sent to Let's Go Red!, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, AS&RC Building, 110 Eighth Street, Troy, NY 12180-9987."