New Sylvania Director & Head of Hockey Brings Fiery Passion and Extensive Experience to the New Center of Excellence

TPH is excited to announce that Jacob Paluch will lead its Sylvania division, as Director & Head of Hockey, ahead of its inaugural Center of Excellence (CoE) school year in 2021. Growing up in a hockey household, with a deep connection to the sport, Paluch brings a fiery passion, a solid hockey background, and experience working for one of the country’s “Hidden Ivy” institutions on the east coast. As the hockey director, Paluch will oversee the application of TPH’s on and off-ice Hockey-Athlete Development Model, mentor student-athletes, execute all training and practice plans, support on-site academic staff, and create a quality culture for all student-athletes to succeed in the classroom, on the ice, and in the real world.

“His previous experience with Colgate University, and his connection to the community, made him a great choice,” said TPH CEO, Nathan Bowen. “He brings excellent knowledge and perspective, beyond his resume, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring Jacob on board as he will bring his contagious energy and enthusiasm to our student-athletes.” 

As a native of Bowling Green, Ohio, Paluch is no stranger to the area and brings a strong sense of familiarity with the local hockey community. He was raised in a coaching household where his father, Scott, coached the Men’s Ice Hockey teams at both Bowling Green State University and Boston College and is currently the Regional Manager of the American Development Model (ADM) for USA Hockey, which is located in the same district as the Sylvania CoE.

With his hockey family bloodline, Paluch has been successful both on and off the ice. The last two years he was the Director of Hockey Operations for Colgate University and was responsible for the oversight of video analysis, analytical evaluations, and assisting the coaching staff with planning and implementation of skill development for players. The prestigious institution is best known for its rigorous academic program, which consistently ranks among the nation’s most elite private liberal arts colleges, and includes a powerful Division I athletic program that competes against schools ten times its size.  Paluch’s previous responsibilities with this well-respected program have afforded him invaluable experiences with the team, culture, recruiting, and optimal preparations for running a successful operation, which will ready him in the new position with the CoE model in Sylvania. 

“I have been very fortunate to be a part of the Colgate staff that continually stressed athletic development and academic success,” said Paluch. “From that experience, I look forward to bringing that same passion for learning to the Sylvania CoE and assisting student-athletes in Northwest Ohio on their commitment to succeeding both on and off the ice.”

As a son of a coach, and whose family still lives in Bowling Green, hockey is in the fiber of Paluch’s DNA, where he has walked in the same shoes as eager athletes who also played youth hockey in northwestern Ohio. Through navigating the same rinks and experiences as Sylvania CoE athletes are accustomed to, Paluch will be able to provide insider guidance, expertise, and key relations to interested student-athletes looking to attend the CoE. With his background as a four-year letter winner for the Men’s Ice Hockey team at Nazareth College, he was provided comprehensive education, with a proactive approach to career and life readiness. He dedicated his time to organizations and community service projects within the Golden Flyers program. 

His devotion to the sport does not stop there, as Paluch has committed five summers in Sylvania as a Team Leader at USA Hockey Mid-Am Select Camp, where he assisted in leading practices as a coach, off-ice workouts for player development, and ensured all campers demonstrated punctuality and a sharp focus on all instructed activities. 

Paluch’s education credentials consist of a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, and Marketing, with a Communications Minor from Nazareth College. He is also a graduate of Kimball Union Academy, which is a private boarding school located in New Hampshire known for its superb accolades in both education and athletics. 

To learn more about our Sylvania TPH CoE, click here. 

About TPH

Founded in 2001, TPH seeks to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through sport. TPH platforms include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics, and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, serving over 10,000 student-athletes on an annual basis, throughout 16 U.S. based divisions. TPH prides itself on taking a holistic approach, one that emphasizes the development of the individual in four ways: (1) as a player within a team setting, (2) as an athlete, dedicated to reaching his/her physical potential, (3) as a student, working to achieve his/her academic goals, and most importantly, (4) as a person, striving to win the ultimate game, and that’s the game of life.