Eric Graham enters his eighth season as head coach of the Johnson & Wales University (Providence) men's ice hockey program in 2026-27. Graham became the sixth head coach in program history prior to the start of the 2019-20 campaign and has guided the program through a period of sustained growth and development on and off the ice.Â
The 2025-26 season marked the return of the Wildcats to postseason play in the Conference of New England (CNE). Under Graham's leadership, JWU has continued to build a competitive culture centered on player development, academic success, and a commitment to excellence. This past season, the Wildcats 3.55 cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.55 – tops amongst men’s programs at JWU.
Since JWU's return to the CNE prior to the start of the 2024-25 campaign, Graham has coached three all-conference selections, two Joe Concannon Award semifinalists, and a Hockey Humanitarian Award semifinalist. His programs have also demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence, earning multiple conference All-Academic Team selections and producing numerous American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-American Scholars.
Graham came to JWU following three seasons as an assistant coach at Bowdoin College, where he worked with the defense while overseeing video analysis, recruiting, alumni relations, and community service initiatives. During his tenure, the Polar Bears qualified for the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) playoffs in 2016-17.
Prior to Bowdoin, Graham spent four seasons as head coach at North Yarmouth Academy. In his final season, the Panthers won 19 games – their highest win total in more than a decade – and advanced to the conference championship game. In addition to leading the NYA hockey program, Graham served as the school's Assistant Director of Admission and as the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Holt Conference Commissioner.
A 2009 graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a degree in business administration, Graham was a four-year member of the Huskies men's ice hockey program. The defenseman appeared in 60 career games, recording five points and 52 penalty minutes, while helping USM rise as high as No. 7 in the national rankings during the 2007-08 season. Graham also served as co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was twice named to the ECAC East All-Academic Team.
Graham earned his Master of Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University with a concentration in Organizational Psychology. He resides in Rhode Island with his wife, Jill, son, Lincoln, and daughter, Grace.
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