Lebanon boys hockey coach steps down after two seasons

Lebanon celebrates their second goal in the second period with their game against Woodstock during the Philippe H. Bouthillier Holiday Classic hockey tournament in White River Junction, Vt., on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in White River Junction, Vt. Lebanon won, 4-0. (Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Lebanon celebrates their second goal in the second period with their game against Woodstock during the Philippe H. Bouthillier Holiday Classic hockey tournament in White River Junction, Vt., on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in White River Junction, Vt. Lebanon won, 4-0. (Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Jennifer Hauck

By MICHAEL COUGHLIN JR.

Valley News Staff Writer

Published: 06-05-2025 4:31 PM

LEBANON — Lebanon High School hockey is seeking a new head coach after Dean Cashman informed the school he would not return for a third season.

Cashman told the Valley News via email that he had communicated to the school that he would not return as head coach in April. 

Cashman took over the head coaching job in 2023. He previously spent 10 years as an assistant coach at Hanover High under head coach Dick Dodds and coached with the Upper Valley Storm youth program’s U14 team. Cashman replaced Jim Damren, who had been Lebanon’s coach since 2017.

The program had finished with just one win in 2023.

In his first year at the helm, Cashman led Lebanon to a 12-6 record in the regular season and the team won the holiday tournament hosted by Hartford High. Lebanon lost to Dover in the NHIAA Division II quarterfinals. 

This past season, Lebanon got off to a slow start but managed to win some games down the stretch and sneak into the playoffs with a 6-11-1 record. The Raiders lost to Winnacunnet in the first round of the D-II playoffs. 

Cashman said that there were “many unforgettable moments” in his tenure with the Raiders. He noted that coaching is a year-to-year endeavor and that he envisions himself back behind the bench again in the future. 

Ben Davis, Lebanon’s director of athletics, was complimentary of Cashman’s work: “Dean did an excellent job.” 

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Davis said that the school is in the early stages of the hiring process for Cashman’s successor. The position was posted on the school district’s job listings this week. 

This will be Davis’ first time filling a hockey vacancy for the Raiders. He took over for longtime athletic director Mike Stone in July. 

“We’re looking for someone who has experience at the varsity level to some degree and understands the dynamics of hockey,” Davis said, noting that the team’s cooperative agreement with Mascoma and Stevens means there are players on the roster from multiple communities. 

“We’ve got some young talent coming through that we’re excited about in the program,” he added.

Michael Coughlin Jr. can be reached at mcoughlin@vnews.com