Why Now? Inside Ed Gosek’s Decision to Retire

After 23 seasons of leading the green and gold, Oswego men’s hockey head coach Ed Gosek has finally decided to hang up the skates.

But with such a successful career, why would Gosek call it quits now? The Lakers had unfinished business after losing to the Hobart Statesmen 4-0 back in March. Oswego had been dethroned from the top of the SUNYAC. 

The final score at The Cooler in Geneva, New York, did not play into the decision. Instead, it was the concept of “time” that really pushed Gosek towards retirement.

Sitting in the same office he’s occupied since the Deborah F. Stanley Arena was built. In front of a desk cluttered with more honors and awards than the average human can comprehend. He’s not sad to say goodbye, but instead is content with the decision he’s made.

“Being on the road, an awful lot of the time and being away and different camps all summer long,” Gosek said of how large of a commitment being the Lakers head coach was. 

The newly retired coach explained how he has an opportunity now to spend lost time from his earlier coaching years.

“At the time, my wife, she was a single parent and now I have that opportunity. You never make up for that time. But I’m going to take the time now to enjoy my grandchildren and my own.”

Gosek also mentioned that it was just the right time. “The time is right, I have my health the program is in a good place its ready to be some young blood, enthusiastic, energy… all the things I had back in 2003.”

Gosek carried all of these philosophies from 2003 through 2026, during which his team remained consistent and competitive during the 23-year period. “It’s very difficult to get to the top of the mountain, and then staying up there is even harder.”

However, just because he is retiring does not mean he is done with the program. “Absolutely, I will be around. I certainly don’t want to interfere with the new staff. They’ll have their own ways of doing things, they’ll have their own opinions of things… sometimes change is very good.” 

With his departure from Oswego Men’s Hockey, Gosek has laid a solid foundation for the future of this program.

“There’s something special that makes our program different from other hockey programs… it started with the four coaches before me, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity.”

What is the specialty? According to Gosek, it’s the program’s culture and camaraderie. 

“We wanna be very good on the ice, but like this past year, we wanna have the highest team GPA. We want to make a commitment to giving back to the local community. We wanna try and conduct ourselves in a way on campus so that students want to support us.”

These standards of excellence define Oswego hockey, and Gosek makes it clear that they’re not changing even after his retirement.

“Those standards are who we are. We don’t wanna take shortcuts for success, and they (the players and faculty) understand that.”

Gosek also reflected on his time in Oswego, saying, “I’m very fortunate and blessed to do something that I love. Really, I never considered it a job, as much as a caretaker of the program… I’m so grateful.”

He leaves Oswego with his head held high and an eternal sense of gratitude for everything this program has given him.

“Thank you. You’re the best. You’ve provided me an unbelievable experience. We’ve got the best fans in Division III hockey.”