The American Hockey Coaches Association has 700 members and Colby College men’s coach and former University of Maine goalie Jim Tortorella, the president of the organization, said they are actively seeking new members.

“The association isn’t just for college coaches,” said Tortorella in dispelling a myth. “It is for coaches at all levels [as well as others who are involved in the sport such as rink managers, pro scouts and sports information directors]. We have added a Web site and we have information about becoming a member on it.”

The Web site is ahcahockey.com and membership fees range from $15 per year for youth hockey coaches to $315 for a Division I college coach.

Tortorella said when someone joins, one of the attractive benefits is a code to the Web site that allows coaches to access various practice drills supplied by other members.

“By improving the quality of coaching, we hope to improve the development of our players in this country,” said Tortorella.

He said the AHCA has several committees ranging from an ethics committee that monitors coaches’ behavior to a legislative committee that would help the college coaches suggest rules changes to the NCAA. It also has committees that deal with securing new members and attracting sponsors and putting together the awards banquets.

Presidents have one-year terms and he said it has been a rewarding year to date.

“It has been worthwhile. It has certainly been challenging,” said Tortorella, one of two Division III coaches to become president. Bowdoin’s Terry Meagher was the first.

“In the end, I want to be able to step away and say maybe some of the things I did helped others grow,” said the 41-year-old Tortorella. “It has been fun to see the emotion and the passion among the members and to see a group come together with one vision in mind.”

Tortorella will become a member of the board of governors next year and former Maine defenseman Roger Grillo, the head coach at Brown, will succeed him. Grillo is the first vice president now.

CMTC sets running workshop

Central Maine Technical College will sponsor its first running workshop for runners and coaches of all levels on Jan. 13. The workshop will run from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

“Anyone involved with running or track at any level can learn from some of the region’s best experts and professionals,” spokesman Mike Bridges said.

One feature workshop will be presented by Brian “Ziggie” Gillespie, who compiled a 146-11 record as the men’s cross country coach at St. Joseph’s College in Standish from 1981-1988. His workshop will cover “The Philosophy of Training and Competition.”

Gillespie will also host a question and answer panel.

Other workshops will cover stretching techniques; foot care and knee injury prevention; biomechanics; nutrition and diet concerns; fabrication and the goal of a custom-fit orthotic; continuous warm-up drills; sports psychology; lactate testing for coaches, trainers and runners; choosing the proper gear; and strength training for runners.

For more information contact Mike Bridges at 755-5251.

Flaherty to speak at Westchester

University of Southern Maine baseball coach Ed Flaherty is among the veteran coaches who will share their knowledge during the 23rd Westchester Baseball-Softball-Soccer Clinic.

The event is scheduled Jan 31-Feb. 2 at the Hilton Rye Town in Rye Brook, N.Y.

Flaherty will lead Feb. 1 sessions on techniques and drills for the 3-1 play (first baseman to catcher) and will recount some baserunning anecdotes. On Feb. 2, he is slated to talk about timing in hitting.

Flaherty, a University of Maine graduate, has directed his Huskies to 15 consecutive NCAA Division III tournament appearances. Last season, he guided USM to its fifth straight 30-win season, the New England Regional title and the program’s sixth trip to the NCAA Division III World Series.

For more information about the clinics, which are open to coaches and students, can be obtained by calling 914-241-2582 or 919-481-2719.