The eighth of ten children, York is a "Triple Eagle", having graduated from Boston College High School in 1963 and Boston College in 1967, as well as earning a Master's degree from Boston College.
Coaching career
York's coaching career began at Clarkson as an assistant coach. In the 1972 York became the head coach when he took over the job from Len Ceglarski who had accepted the head coaching job at BC. York coached at Clarkson for 7 years, winning the ECACregular season title in 1977. In 1979 York moved from Clarkson to Bowling Green, taking over from Ron Mason. In 15 seasons at the school, he compiled nine 20-win seasons, 4 CCHA regular season titles, 1 CCHA tournament title, 6 NCAA tournament appearances, and a National Title in 1984. York returned to his alma mater, Boston College, in 1994, and began rebuilding the program. In the 1997–98 season, BC surprised the college hockey world by reaching the NCAA title game. In 23 years, York has led the Eagles to nine Hockey East regular season titles in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, nine Hockey East tournament titles in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, nine Beanpot titles in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, twelve NCAA tournament appearances, and four national titles in 2001 by beating North Dakota, 2008 by beating Notre Dame, 2010 by beating Wisconsin and 2012 by beating Ferris State University. His 2001 title was BC's first national title since 1949, and only the second in the storied program's then 81-year history. York's BC teams have had twelve Frozen Four appearances in fifteen years from 1998 to 2016. During that span, BC has played in the National Championship Game eight times. BC lost four national title games to Michigan in 1998, to North Dakota in 2000, to Wisconsin in 2006, and to Michigan State in 2007. On November 7, 2013, York signed a contract extension to stay as the head coach of Boston College through 2020, which would be his 46th season coaching and 26th at BC. During the 2014–15 season at Boston College, York passed legendary John "Snooks" Kelley, whom he played under as a student athlete, for most programs win all-time at Boston College. Kelley had 501 victories for the Eagles. On January 22, 2016, York earned his 1000th career win as a head coach, becoming the first coach in NCAA Division I ice hockey history to reach this milestone.
