Coaching Staff

Entering his 11th year as the head coach of the Shaker Heights High School Varsity Hockey Team, Coach Matt Bartley brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the program. With 16 years of head coaching at the varsity level, Coach Bartley boasts an impressive 282-198-38 record, indicative of his exceptional leadership and coaching prowess. Coach Bartley has been honored with numerous Coach of The Year awards, a testament to his dedication and commitment to excellence. Building upon the legacy established by his father, former Head Coach Mike Bartley, Coach Bartley continues to uphold the tradition of success at Shaker Heights High School. Coach Bartley served as the Captain of the 2001 SHHS State Championship Team, showcasing his leadership abilities on the ice. Additionally, he contributed his expertise as the Associate Head Coach of the 2013 SHHS State Championship Team.

Mike Bartley served as the Head Coach of the Shaker Heights High Varsity hockey team from 1976 to 2013, boasting an impressive coaching career spanning 37 years. During this time, he amassed a remarkable record of 640 wins, 346 losses, and 36 ties, establishing himself as the most successful high school hockey coach in Ohio at the time of his retirement. Originally hailing from Sarnia, Ontario, Coach Bartley played NCAA Division 1 hockey at Bowling Green State University, where he set several records that still stand today. After a brief stint in professional hockey, Coach Bartley transitioned into teaching and coaching at Shaker Heights High School, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from his successful playing career.

Coach Strang is in his 12th season as an Assistant Coach for the Red Raiders. He was a standout athlete at Shaker Heights High School, where he co-captained the 2001 State Championship hockey team, and received honors as Winter Athlete Of The Year by the Plain Dealer. Additionally, he was a four-year varsity baseball player for the Raiders and served as team captain for two years. Following high school, Coach Strang played Junior A hockey with the Youngstown Phantoms and the Pittsburgh Forge. He then went on to compete at the collegiate level, playing NCAA Division I hockey for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He also played NCAA Division III baseball at Union College in Schenectady, New York. Currently, Coach Strang is an Assistant County Prosecutor in Cuyahoga County, specializing in the Homicide Unit.

Coach Ewing began his hockey journey in the Shaker Youth Program and played four years of SHHS Varsity Hockey for the Red Raiders, serving as team captain in his senior year. After high school, he played two seasons of Junior A Hockey for the Boston Junior Bruins in the EJHL. Earning a degree in Communications from New England College, Coach Ewing also played four years of collegiate hockey (Division III) for The Pilgrims. Following college, he spent two years playing professional hockey in Sweden with the Kungsbacka Kings. Coach Ewing is entering his 5th year coaching at Shaker Heights High. Before returning to Cleveland, he gained valuable coaching experience, spending 10 years working with the youth and high school programs in Evanston, Illinois.

Coach Okicki has devoted five years to the Shaker Hockey program and also contributes to Okicki Hockey and Conway Goaltending, where he aids players of all levels in honing their skills. His playing career includes three seasons in the North American Hockey League, followed by collegiate hockey at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Kent State University. Alex is recognized for his dynamic energy and unwavering dedication to coaching and teaching.

Entering his 10th season as the JV Coach at Shaker Heights High School, Coach Hulme draws on his extensive background as an engineer, experienced coach, and soldier to focus on player development, team building, and character growth. He was a 2001 State Championship team member and a 4-year varsity letter recipient. Coach Hulme is dedicated to shaping the next generation of SHHS Varsity Hockey players while honoring the proud traditions of Shaker Schools and the Hockey Program. He works diligently to instill these values in the minds and behaviors of the JV Team, regardless of where they are in their educational and hockey journeys.

This season marks four years for Coach Christman as a coach for the Shaker Heights High School Hockey program. Initially, he spent two years as an assistant coach for the JV team, focusing on coaching the defense. However, in the 2023-24 season, he transitioned to coaching the defensemen for the Varsity team while still working with the JV team. Before coaching, Christman was a player for the Shaker Heights High School Varsity team from 2011 to 2015. He is a 2015 graduate of SHHS and was a top-four defenseman during his sophomore year when the team won their 7th Ohio High School State Championship in 2013. Coach Christman was a team captain during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. He was also a stand-out lacrosse player at SHHS, lettering all four years in high school, and served as team captain during his senior season.

Coach Grant Passell is entering his fifth year as an assistant coach and goalie coach for both the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. Prior to his coaching career, Passell played for the Shaker Heights Varsity team from 2011 to 2015, contributing to the 2013 State Championship victory. He was also a member of the SHHS golf and lacrosse programs. With years of experience, Coach Passell is dedicated to player development, focusing on refining goaltender techniques and enhancing their preparation. He is committed to elevating his athletes while upholding and advancing the rich traditions of Red Raider Hockey. After graduating from Shaker in 2015, he attended Miami University and now works in Corporate Communications at the Cleveland Clinic. He lives with his fiancée Alex and their golden retriever, Nash.

Coach Bokar is entering his sixth year as a high school hockey coach, with the last four years spent in the Red Raider program after two years at Padua High School. He brings a great deal of coaching experience, having coached high school hockey, soccer, and baseball for a total of 11 years. Throughout his coaching career, his teams have achieved district championships and reached regional finals. He has received several coaching awards and was honored as the associate coach of the year for the eastern region of Ohio in DII women’s soccer in 2016. As a former state champion in baseball at Strongsville High School in 2006, Coach Bokar has a passion for sports. Outside of coaching, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing recreational hockey.