University of Minnesota Athletics
Don Lucia Signs Three-Year Contract Extension
11/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
“We wanted to make sure that Don Lucia remained at Minnesota and we are excited to have him signed through the end of the 2012 season,” Maturi said. “With the success he has brought to the men’s hockey program, we are fortunate to have Don at the helm for the next seven years. We’re looking forward to more NCAA Frozen Four appearances and national championships with Coach Lucia behind the Minnesota bench.”
“I’m grateful for the trust that Joel has put in me,” Lucia said. “There is nowhere else I’d rather be coaching than here at the University of Minnesota. I’m looking forward to my next seven years as head coach of the Golden Gophers.”
Lucia, 47, has guided the Golden Gophers to a stellar 169-80-25 (.662) mark during his six-plus seasons. He is two wins behind Brad Buetow (171-75-8 from 1979-85) for third place on Minnesota’s all-time coaching wins list. In 18-plus seasons overall as a head coach, Lucia has compiled a 448-235-54 (.645) record. That mark places him sixth in career victories among active NCAA Division I coaches. Lucia has led the Maroon and Gold to three NCAA Frozen Fours in the last four years (2002, ’03, ’05) and NCAA Championships in 2002 and 2003. With the consecutive NCAA crowns, Lucia became one of just five coaches in NCAA history to lead his team to back-to-back national titles.
Fourth-ranked Minnesota returns home this weekend to continue Rivalry Month, hosting arch-rival and top-ranked Wisconsin on Friday-Saturday, Dec. 2-3, at Mariucci Arena. Both games face off at 7:07 p.m., and will be broadcast on FSN North and WCCO AM 830.