Rob O’Gara played for the New York Rangers in 2017-18. (Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Taft has its next bench boss.

Rob O’Gara has been hired as the next boys hockey head coach. The news comes after Ryan Shannon stepped down as Taft’s head coach in mid-April.

O’Gara arrived at Taft after being an assistant coach at Yale since 2021.

The Nesconset, N.Y., native played prep hockey for Milton Academy from 2010-12. In 2011, the 6-foot-4 defenseman was a fifth-round pick by the Boston Bruins in the NHL Draft.

He followed that up with a four-year career at Yale, winning a national championship as a freshman in 2013.

From 2016-21, he spent time with the NHL’s Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, as well as the AHL’s Providence Bruins, Hartford Wolf Pack, San Antonio Rampage, Springfield Thunderbirds and Hershey Bears.

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Taft went 10-13-1 last season, missing the NEPSAC postseason.

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