Paul Joseph Haggerty

West Point, 1991

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by TR Coccaro on March 27, 1998:

Coach Riley often spoke of Paul Haggerty as an inspiration for our team. We had heard how this one time JV player had worked his way up to the varsity and won the MVP his senior year. We would hear stories on how he crushed opponents, crashed the net, and terrorized opozing goalies. Little did we know that when we would eventually get to know him, he would inspire us in ways far from just the ice, but in life. The day I met Coach Hags I was shocked that he was not 6'3'' 220 pounds. I thought to myself this can't be the guy coach always tells us about. I expected him to be this monster of a person with a passion for just hockey. Little did I and the rest of the team know. Soon enough we learned who Coach Haggerty truly was. We saw in Hags a true role model. He was the best father, husband, brother, coach, and friend someone could ask for. He was the humblest of men for someone who had so much to brag about. Hags has taught me that there is far more to life than just hockey. He has taught me that one's love for their family is the strongest love of all. He showed us a passion for life and his family many of us have never experienced. In a manner far from just hockey, Paul Haggerty truly was an inspiration to us all.

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