University of Minnesota Athletics
LUCIA NAMES HOCKEY COACHING STAFF
4/22/1999 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Guentzel, 36, who was also a candidate for the head coaching position filled by Lucia, will be entering his sixth season at the University of Minnesota. Guentzel came to the Golden Gophers after spending two seasons as head coach and general manager of the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League. During his stint at Omaha, he recorded an 89-39-2 overall record, which included Anderson Cup (regular season) and Clark Cup (playoff) championships in the team's inaugural season.
Guentzel began his coaching career in 1986 as an assistant coach of the St. Paul Vulcans, and in 1989 was named head coach and general manager of the Vulcans. In the 1991-92 season, Guentzel led the Vulcans to the national championship. The following season, he was named USHL Coach of the Year.
A former Golden Gopher hockey captain on the ice, Guentzel led the 1984-85 squad to a 31-13-3 record. Guentzel is a 1987 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in business and human relations.
Guentzel, who played prep hockey at Greenway High School in Coleraine, Minn., followed his collegiate career by briefly playing professional hockey for the Salt Lake City Golden Eagles of the International Hockey League and the New Haven Night Hawks of the American Hockey League. Guentzel and his wife, Sally, are the parents of three sons, Ryan (age 12), Gabe (10), and Jake (4).
"I am excited about the future of Golden Gopher hockey, which is a big reason why I wanted to stay on board and help this program get back to the heights it has been to in the past," said Guentzel. "I know Don Lucia will do an outstanding job, and I want to do whatever I can to help the program succeed and move forward."
Hill, spent the last four seasons at Colorado College after spending four years (1991-95) as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. Hill has been active with USA Hockey since his tenure began at Colorado College, coaching at its select-17 festivals in Ann Arbor, Mich., and St. Cloud, Minn., the last two summers. In August of 1998, he served as an assistant coach for the WCHA all-star team that competed at the Kolin Cup in Switzerland.
Hill is a 1988 graduate of Alaska-Anchorage with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He captained the Seawolves to a 23-6-1 overall record in 1983-84, and logged a total of 121 points (60 goals, 61 assists) in a four-year playing career in Anchorage. Hill began his coaching career as a part-time assistant at UAA in 1988, then moved on a year later to become head coach and general manager of the United States Hockey League's Dubuque Fighting Saints. Within two years, he guided the Saints to 22 victories and a berth in the National Junior `A' Tournament.
Hill had a brief professional stint in 1985-86 with the Virginia Lancers of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League, earning second-team ACHL all-star honors with 48 goals and 48 assists that season. Hill and his wife, Patsy, will be moving to Minnesota soon and will assume his new duties sometime in mid-May.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge of helping Don (Lucia) and Mike (Guentzel) in our pursuit of league and national championships at the University of Minnesota," said Hill. "I'm especially looking forward to helping the student-athletes become successful not only on the rink, but in the classroom and to become productive and positive role models on campus and in society. One of the things I feel I can bring is a positive and upbeat attitude to the kids and my job on a daily basis. Mike (Guentzel) and I have a long- standing relationship back to our days coaching in the United States Hockey League, and I'm looking forward to getting a chance to work with him in my new position."
"I'm excited about our staff and what we will be able to accomplish together," said Golden Gopher Head Men's Hockey Coach Don Lucia. "Mike (Guentzel) has proven to be an outstanding recruiter, and I believe it's important to have an `M' man (alumni) on staff. Mike also has an outstanding rapport with the alumni, and has an inner knowledge of the athletic department in general which will help ease the transition for me.
"John (Hill) has been with me for four years at Colorado College and is a big reason we have had the success we did with the Tigers. We (John and I) always seem to be on the same page in our thinking, which makes for an easy relationship. John, Mike, and I are all friends and get along personally very well, and that can be a big plus in establishing working relationships. Both John and Mike will be outstanding head coaches someday."
