University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Jim Rosvold/University of Minnesota
Don Lucia Named CCHA Commissioner
6/17/2020 10:40:00 AM | Men's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – Former Gopher Hockey coach Don Lucia, who led the Maroon & Gold to back-to-back national championships and remains the program's all-time coaching wins leader, has been named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association commissioner. The league, which will begin play in the 2021-22 season, announced the hire on Wednesday.
"College hockey is better with Don Lucia in it, and I think this is a great hire for the CCHA. Don has seen it all in his career, and the knowledge and experience he brings to the league is going to be a big asset as they get up and running," Gopher Hockey head coach Bob Motzko, who won two NCAA titles as an assistant under Lucia, said. "I'm thrilled for him as a friend, and I'm thrilled that college hockey will continue to grow and benefit from his leadership."
During his 31-year career as a Division I head coach, Lucia won 736 career games - ranking eighth all-time in NCAA history. He holds a 736-403-102 career coaching record, including a 457-247-73 mark at the University of Minnesota.
His 457 wins are the most in Gopher Hockey history, an average of more than 24 wins per season over his tenure at Minnesota. Hired in 1999, Lucia's teams raised 14 championship banners over his 19 years with the Maroon & Gold. His Gophers teams claimed eight regular-season conference crowns, as well as four conference tournament titles. Lucia guided five Gopher teams to the Frozen Four and won back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003.
Before his final coaching stop at Minnesota, Lucia previously held head coaching duties at Colorado College (1993-99) and Alaska Fairbanks (1987-93). Lucia stepped down as head coach of the Gophers on March 20, 2018 and served as special assistant to the athletics director through June 30, 2019.
Lucia played college hockey at Notre Dame, skating in 124 games for the Irish as a defenseman from 1977-1981.
"College hockey is better with Don Lucia in it, and I think this is a great hire for the CCHA. Don has seen it all in his career, and the knowledge and experience he brings to the league is going to be a big asset as they get up and running," Gopher Hockey head coach Bob Motzko, who won two NCAA titles as an assistant under Lucia, said. "I'm thrilled for him as a friend, and I'm thrilled that college hockey will continue to grow and benefit from his leadership."
During his 31-year career as a Division I head coach, Lucia won 736 career games - ranking eighth all-time in NCAA history. He holds a 736-403-102 career coaching record, including a 457-247-73 mark at the University of Minnesota.
His 457 wins are the most in Gopher Hockey history, an average of more than 24 wins per season over his tenure at Minnesota. Hired in 1999, Lucia's teams raised 14 championship banners over his 19 years with the Maroon & Gold. His Gophers teams claimed eight regular-season conference crowns, as well as four conference tournament titles. Lucia guided five Gopher teams to the Frozen Four and won back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003.
Before his final coaching stop at Minnesota, Lucia previously held head coaching duties at Colorado College (1993-99) and Alaska Fairbanks (1987-93). Lucia stepped down as head coach of the Gophers on March 20, 2018 and served as special assistant to the athletics director through June 30, 2019.
Lucia played college hockey at Notre Dame, skating in 124 games for the Irish as a defenseman from 1977-1981.
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