Cory Whitaker – Head Coach
whitakco@gvsu.edu

A proven winner as both a player and a coach, Cory Whitaker is currently in his 3rd season as the head coach of the Grand Valley State women’s hockey program.

Whitaker founded the program in 2006 and has built the fledgling program into a national contender. Since its inception, Whitaker and the Lakers have posted a 25-32-1 record. This includes a ranking as high as #4 in the nation as well as a National Tournament birth in only the second year of the program’s existence.

Whitaker played collegiate hockey with the GVSU men’s hockey program from 1996-2001. During that span, he was awarded the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC) first-team all conference goaltender in 2001 alongside a selection to the first ever MCHC All-Star Showcase team.

During his career at Grand Valley, Whitaker posted a .903 save percentage while facing more than 2,000 shots and logging more than 2,700 minutes between the pipes.

After his collegiate days were behind him, Whitaker was given an opportunity to compete at the semi-pro level. During the 2003 season, Whitaker suited up for the Muskegon Fury of the United Hockey League. While short lived it was an amazing expierence that Whitaker uses to relate to the current athlete.

Once his playing days were complete, Whitaker focused on coaching. Starting as a goalie coach for Northview High School in 1996, he then moved on to the travel hockey ranks both as an assistant and a head coach.

Setting his sights on a collegiate program, Whitaker began the woman’s program in 2007-2008 and compiled a disappointing 1-20-0 during his first year coaching his alma mater.

After regrouping and recruiting a talented class, the 2008-2009 campaign saw an amazing turnaround as the Lakers went 14-8-0 and were invited to their first ACHA National Tournament as the #10 seed. This feat was accomplished with an amazing 13 freshmen on the Laker roster.

In September of 2009, Whitaker claimed the apex in coaching certification as he earned his master-level coaching certification (Level 5). Only a select few ACHA coaches can claim such an accomplishment.

Currently, the Lakers are in the midst of their 2009-2010 campaign which already features victories over national contenders Liberty University and Robert Morris University, including capturing the Robert Morris University Invitational Championship.

Whitaker currently resides in Caledonia with his wife Julie and his children Jaren (4) and Reagan (2).