WALTHAM, Mass. – In tribute to Bob DeFelice's 50 years as baseball coach and more than a quarter century as the director of athletics at Bentley University, the ice rink at the new Bentley Arena will be known as the "Coach DeFelice Ice Rink," according to an announcement by University President Gloria Cordes Larson.

This was made possible by a generous gift from a donor who has great respect for Coach's role leading Bentley athletics and a personal connection as a parent of a Bentley alum. 

"'Coach,' as he is affectionately known by so many, joined Bentley in 1968 as the men's baseball coach—but his nickname doesn't do justice to the legacy he built beyond the baseball diamond," wrote Larson in an email to the Bentley community. "Over his 50-year tenure, he has mentored generations of student-athletes, transforming lives and shaping futures. And in more than 25 years as athletics director, Coach has played a vital role in bringing Bentley's athletics program to the national stage."

The new Bentley Arena opens this weekend, providing a new, state-of-the-art home for student activities and athletic events that will enhance student life for the next generation of Bentley students. The multipurpose arena will host Bentley's Division I hockey team and prominent university events such as career fairs, high-profile speakers, alumni events and concerts. The 76,000 square foot facility marks Bentley's continued rise as a modern, nationally-recognized business university and is a prime example of sustainable design and energy efficiency. 

The multipurpose arena opens with a pair of sold-out hockey games against Army West Point tonight and Saturday, along with a comedy show for students on Sunday. The Bentley Arena is located on Beaver Street, adjacent to the Robert DeFelice Baseball Field, home of the Falcons since 2002.

Since DeFelice became the director of athletics in 1991, Falcon athletic teams have captured 112 conference championships (regular season and playoff), made NCAA appearances in 10 team sports, won two national championships (women's basketball in 2014 and field hockey in 2001), and continued to excel in the classroom. Bentley student-athletes have the highest graduation rate in the country at 98 percent, according to the NCAA, and 60 Bentley student-athletes have been recognized as Academic All-Americas by the College Sports Information Directors of America during DeFelice's time as director of athletics.

Read more about the new Bentley Arena

One of the Nation's Top Business Schools

Bentley University is one of the nation's leading business schools, dedicated to preparing a new kind of business leader with the technical skills, global perspective and ethical standards required to make a difference in an ever-changing world. Bentley's diverse arts and sciences program combined with an advanced business curriculum prepares graduates to make an impact in their chosen fields and their lives. The university enrolls approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. Bloomberg BusinessWeek ranked Bentley a top 10 undergraduate business school.