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Dave Iinsalaco

Dave Insalaco

Dave Insalaco enters his 17th year at RIT in 2025-26. Promoted to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2020-21 season, Insalaco brings nearly 25 years of experience to the bench where his role includes managing the Tigers’ defensemen and penalty killing.
 
A driving force behind RIT’s rise as a Division I program, Insalaco has been part of four NCAA Tournament appearances, four Atlantic Hockey Championships and six regular-season AHA titles.
 
His first season in 2008-09 saw the Tigers finish with a 23-13-2 record while clinching the second seed for the Atlantic Hockey Tournament. The following year, RIT won its first Atlantic Hockey Championship and caught the hockey world’s attention with a Cinderella run to the Frozen Four to finish with a program-record 28-12-1 mark.
 
Insalaco was also part of back-to-back Atlantic Hockey Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2016. He was on the bench during the Tigers’ 2-1 upset of No. 1 Minnesota State in the opening round of the 2015 tournament, marking the first time the 16th seed upset the top-seed in NCAA hockey history. He also helped the Tigers to another title the following year as RIT became only the second AHA program to win consecutive championships.

Insalaco guided the Tiger penalty kill to a fourth-place finish nationally (.864) in 2023-24 as RIT won its fourth Atlantic Hockey Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament to finish with a 27-11-2 record.
   
Insalaco has helped recruit and mentor multiple players to conference and national recognition: 

  • Gianfranco Cassaro was named a 2024 Second-Team All-American and landed his second-straight AHA All-Conference selection after leading all defensemen in the country with 18 goals.
  • Aidan Hansen-Bukata was named 2023 AHA Best Defenseman and garnered back-to-back all-conference honors  
  • Will Calverley was named the 2021 Atlantic Hockey Co-Player of the Year and Top Defensive Forward along with back-to-back AHA All-Conference certificates.  
  • Adam Brubacher was named the 2017 Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year and garnered Second-Team All-Conference recognition as a senior after accumulating 106 career points (26G/80A)
  • Chase Norish was voted the 2016 Atlantic Hockey Best Defenseman and was a two-time AHA All-Conference pick.

In 2009, 2011, and 2012, Insalaco coached at the USA Hockey Select Under-17 and Under-16 Development camps in Rochester with several of the nation’s top collegiate coaches and was tapped to coach in the 2011 Select 17 All-Star game. Insalaco also served as a guest coach for the Washington Capitals prospect development camps prior to their Stanley Cup in 2018.
 
Insalaco came to RIT after spending two seasons (2005-07) with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, including half a season as head coach and general manager. During his tenure with the Gamblers, he coached several players who went on to standout RIT careers, including Cameron Burt, Taylor McReynolds, Sean Murphy and Chris Saracino. He also coached defenseman Derrick LaPoint, who was a 2006 draftee of the Florida Panthers.
 
Insalaco spent the previous three seasons as assistant coach at SUNY Geneseo (2003-05), including two under former RIT Associate Head Coach Brian Hills. Insalaco helped guide the Knights to a 51-23-11 record, including back-to-back State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championships and NCAA Division III Tournament berths in 2005 and 2006. Insalaco’s first coaching stint came as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater, SUNY Brockport, during the 2002-03 campaign.
 
Graduating with an education degree in 2000, Insalaco closed his career tied for seventh in Golden Eagle history with 47 goals and 10th with 109 points. The standout left winger punctuated his career with All-SUNYAC Second Team honors while also winning Chase Memorial Academic Athletic Scholarship recognition.
 
Insalaco played two years of professional hockey for the Adirondack IceHawks of the United Hockey League from 2000-02, recording 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 128 career appearances. He was voted both the "Unsung Hero" and "110 Percent" Award winner by the fans after the IceHawks won the Northeast Division title his first season.
 
Insalaco also earned a master’s degree in education from Brockport. The Greece, N.Y. native currently lives in Fairport, N.Y. with his wife, Erika, and children, David and Clare.
 
Insalaco’s sister, Kim, was a member of the 2006 United States Women’s Olympic Hockey Team which earned a bronze medal in Turin, Italy.