Juan de la Rocha begins his 25th season behind the Plainsman bench and has coached over 500 games for the Plainsmen thus far. As Head Coach, de la Rocha has grown the Shenendehowa Varsity Hockey Team into one of the top programs in all of Section 2, guiding the Plainsmen to 4 Final Four appearances, 4 Regional Championships, 10 Section 2 Division I Championships, 9 CDHSHL Championships and 13 Suburban Council Division Titles. In addition, Coach D’s Plainsmen have made 16 Section II Final appearances during his 24 year tenure with an overall record of 357-164-28.

 

Over the span of 24 years, “Coach D” has posted five 20-plus victory seasons, making him one of the winningest coaches in Section II. During the 2021-22 season de la Rocha earned his 300th win in a 3-0 victory over Bethlehem. He currently stands among the top 10 active coaches in NYS for most wins. The Plainsmen have also been ranked in the Top 10 of New York State High School hockey teams by the New York State Sportswriters Association for 12 of the last 19 years. 

 

A 6th grade Physical Education teacher at Gowana Middle School, de la Rocha was also Assistant Coach for the Boys’ Varsity Soccer team from 2001-2006. The team won 3 Section II titles, 2 Regional titles and a State Championship in 2005.

 

Coach de la Rocha holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education, with a minor in Coaching (Syracuse University), and a Masters Degree in Education, as well as Certification to be a School District Administrator (MCLA). He also holds a Level 5 USA Hockey Coaching Certification. He and his wife, Dena Marie, live in Clifton Park with their two children, Christina, Joseph & their goldendoodle "Bauer".

 

-written by Judy Fraizer

*updated March 2025

           

 

 

Coaching Highlights

• Section 2 Coach of the Year (2024)
• NYSPHSAA Coach of the Year (2022)
• 5x Times Union Section II Coach of the Year (2003-4, 2007-8, 2011-12, 2021-22, 2024-25)
• 4x Saratogian Coach of the Year (2002-3, 2003-4, 2006-7, 2007-8)
• Led SHEN to 10 Section 2-Division I titles (2001-2008, 2013-14, 2021-22, 2023-24 & 2024-25).
• Guided SHEN to 4x NYSPHSAA Final Four appearances (2004, 2005, 2022 & 2025).
• Coach of the Adirondack Region Empire State Games hockey team in 2007
• Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in Physical Education, with a minor in Coaching
• Masters degree in Education from MCLA
• USA Hockey Level 5

 

As a Player

• Member of Syracuse University ACHA, Div. I club hockey team 1994 -1998
• Captain and leading scorer 1998
• Avon Old Farms School, Varsity hockey, post-graduate year 1993-4
• Voted Schenectady HS Athlete of the Year 1993
• Captain and leading scorer 1992-93
• Niskayuna/Schenectady High School Varsity player 1989-93