WILKES-BARRE, PA (July 10, 2026) -- The King's College men's ice hockey program has added Jacob Smulevitch as an assistant coach, head coach Race Bennett announced, bringing a wealth of junior hockey coaching experience to the Monarchs' staff.
 
Smulevitch joins King's after serving as Academy Director and 18U Head Coach for the West Chester Wolves, where he oversaw all aspects of the program, including recruiting, player development, scheduling, travel, budgeting, and team operations. During his tenure, he was selected as a Power Prep All-Star Coach and guided the Wolves to a Power Prep Championship runner-up finish.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Jacob Smulevitch to our program," said Bennett. "Jacob's intense passion for the game and his commitment to the development of our student-athletes makes him a tremendous addition to our staff. We are very excited to see the immediate impact that Jacob has on the growth of King's hockey."
 
Prior to his time with the Wolves, Smulevitch served as head coach of the Casper Warbirds, an NCDC expansion franchise, where he oversaw all hockey operations, including recruiting, staff management, practice planning, video analysis, and game preparation. He also played an active role in community engagement initiatives and helped establish the foundation for the organization's inaugural season.
 
Smulevitch has extensive experience in junior hockey, including previous head coaching positions with the Columbia Infantry, Charlotte Rush, and Charleston Colonials of the USPHL. During the 2021-22 season with the Charlotte Rush, he helped guide the organization to Southeast Division and Regular Season League Championships while posting a 35-7-2 record. He also led the Charleston Colonials to a USPHL Elite National Championship runner-up finish during the 2020-21 campaign.
 
"I'm extremely excited to join the Monarchs hockey family," said Smulevitch. "Thank you to Race Bennett and Andy Orlowski for the opportunity."
 
Smulevitch added that he and his family are looking forward to becoming part of the King's community and contributing to the continued growth of the program.
 
"My family and I can't wait to arrive at King's and become members of the campus and community," said Smulevitch. "This is a program that is on the rise in every possible way and I couldn't be more grateful to join the journey."
 
Before entering the coaching ranks, Smulevitch gained experience in scouting and analytics with the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers, where he evaluated players, tracked advanced statistics, and prepared scouting reports and video breakdowns to assist with player recruitment and draft preparation.
 
A graduate of Ball State University, Smulevitch earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Administration with minors in Marketing and Management. He is also a Level 4 USA Hockey Coach and is fluent in Russian.
 
As an assistant coach, Smulevitch will assist with all aspects of the King's men's ice hockey program, including recruiting, player development, practice planning, video analysis, and game-day operations
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