GENEVA, N.Y.- Hobart College Interim Director of Athletics Brian Miller and William Smith College Director of Athletics Deb Steward recently announced the hiring of Pat Cosquer as the head coach of the Hobart and William Smith squash programs.
 
"The time was right to change our staffing structure to enhance the experience of our Hobart and William Smith squash players," Steward said. "This should not be confused as a coed program. We will still operate as a Herons squash team and a Statesmen squash team. It will mirror the unique and special ways of our coordinate system that make Hobart and William Smith Colleges successful."
 
Cosquer comes to HWS from Bates, where he spent the last 11 years as the head coach of the Bobcats men's and women's squash teams. In his time in Lewiston, Maine, he guided the Bates squash teams to a combined record of 309-200. Cosquer mentored eight All-Americans, a two-time College Squash Association Individual Champion, five NESCAC Players of the Year, three NESCAC Rookies of the Year, and 51 All-NESCAC performers. He was named the NESCAC's men's coach of the year twice (2010 and 2016) and the women's coach of the year once (2010). At the CSA Team National Championships, Cosquer guided the Bates men's team to a championship in the Summers Cup (C Division) in 2016 and the women's team to championships in 2016, 2018 and 2019 in the Walker Cup (C Division).
 
"We are very excited to have a coach with the experience and knowledge like Pat join our staff," Miller said. "His addition is such a win-win for everyone, from our squash program and our student-athletes, who will benefit from a head coach with a national track record of success, to our alums, who will enjoy Pat's engaging personality and forward thinking, to Coach Tim Riskie, who can now focus all his attention to our tennis teams. It was clear from the moment Coach Cosquer stepped on campus, he has big plans for both the Statesmen and Herons squash programs."
 
"I am thrilled to welcome Pat to our Hobart and William Smith Colleges family," Steward added. "He led Bates College men's and women's teams to great success and we look forward to his impact building on the foundations established by past coaches Tim Riskie and Chip Fishback. Pat has been instrumental in expanding Bates' squash facility and building alumni support. He is an outstanding recruiter and his teams are known for being of high character, prepared and unified. I look forward to having Pat join our athletic departments."
 
Prior to his time at Bates, Cosquer served as the Director of Squash Programs and Community Service at StreetSquash. StreetSquash is an after-school enrichment program in Harlem, N.Y., which combines academic tutoring, community service and mentoring and college preparation with squash instruction.  Over his four years with StreetSquash, Cosquer coached the four-time Girls Under 17/19 National Urban Team Champions, the three-time Boys Under 17/19 National Urban Individual Champion, the 2008 Boys Under 17/19 National Urban Team Champion and several nationally ranked juniors while helping to increase his teams' academic average by 10 points. He also served as an assistant squash professional at The Chatham Club and was a clinic director at Montclair YMCA.
 
In addition, Cosquer has spent time at Portsmouth Abbey School as an assistant coach and with Newport Squash Club as an assistant professional. During the 1998-99 season, he served as the head coach for Northwestern University. Cosquer guided the Wildcats to the Chaffee Trophy (E Division) Championship.
 
Cosquer graduated from Bates in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. He was a four-year member of the Bobcat's squash team. Cosquer amassed a 60-22 individual record and was team captain and team MVP as a senior. He was also a member of the baseball team.
 
"I am honored to be joining athletic departments with such rich heritages, winning cultures and dedicated and talented student-athletes and I look forward to using my experiences and knowledge to help make Hobart and William Smith even better," Cosquer said. "I am eager to build on the squash success that, Tim Riskie and Chip Fishback experienced and to growing and developing new traditions at HWS. I am grateful and humbled by the faith that Deb Steward, Brian Miller and the entire search committee saw in me and my abilities and I can't wait to begin our journey together in Geneva."
 
Cosquer will be just the second head coach in the history of the William Smith squash program. Fishback, his predecessor, directed the Herons to 15 winning seasons, posting a record of 222-189 (.540). His team won Liberty League Championships in 2004-05 and 2005-06. They also captured five titles at the CSA championships, securing the Walker Cup in 2006 and 2007, and the Epps Cup in 2009, 2013 and 2018. Cosquer inherits eight players from a team that was 10-10 last year. William Smith finished second at the 2019 Epps Cup.
 
Cosquer will be the sixth person to serve as head coach for the Statesmen. He takes over for Tim Riskie who was named head coach prior to the 2011-12 season. Riskie guided Hobart to an eight-year record of 79-106. The Statesmen won the Conroy Cup in 2012. Cosquer inherits 10 athletes from last year's squad that was 8-13 overall and finished third at the Liberty League Championships.