University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Hockey
- Title:
- Women's Hockey Head Coach
- Email:
- frost017@umn.edu
The 2024-25 season marked head coach Brad Frost’s 18th year at the helm of Minnesota women’s hockey. During his tenure, Frost has elevated the Gophers to the pinnacle of collegiate hockey, highlighted by six consecutive NCAA Women’s Frozen Four appearances from 2011-12 through 2016-17. Minnesota captured four national championships in a six-year span, winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 and again in 2015 and 2016.
Frost joined the program in 2001 as an assistant coach and later served as the interim head coach during the 2007-08 season before being named the program’s second head coach on April 16, 2008.
On Sept. 27, 2024, Frost further etched his name into women’s hockey history by becoming just the fourth head coach in NCAA Division I women’s hockey to reach 500 career wins, accomplishing the milestone with a 4-1 victory over then No. 9 Connecticut in the season opener.
Across 18 seasons leading the Gophers, the Bethel University graduate has guided Minnesota to four NCAA national championships, 10 NCAA Frozen Four appearances, seven WCHA regular-season titles, and four WCHA Final Faceoff championships. Frost concluded the 2024-25 season with a career record of 528-121-42 (.800) and has never had a team finish lower than fourth place in the WCHA.
COACHING EXCELLENCE
Frost, who has won four national titles, is considered one of the best and most respected coaches in college hockey. In his 18 seasons, he has been named an AHCA Coach of the Year Finalist 10 times and has won the national honor twice (2013 and 2014). Frost has been named WCHA Coach of the Year four times (2008, 2009, 2013, and 2014). Under his tutelage, the Gophers have tallied seven seasons with 30 or more wins. In 2013, Frost led the Gophers to the NCAA's first-ever perfect season (41-0-0), and he became the winningest head coach in Gopher women's hockey history with his 279th career win on Jan. 22, 2016.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Over the last 18 years, Frost has coached some of the top talent not only in the nation but also in the world. He has seen 15 players (Josefin Bouveng, Megan Bozek, Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, Mira Jalosuo, Amanda Kessel, Nelli Laitinen, Gigi Marvin, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Tereza Plosová, Noora Räty, Anne Schleper, Lee Stecklein, and Grace Zumwinkle) represent their respective countries in the Olympics. He also aided the development of former Gophers and Olympians Natalie Darwitz, Kelly Stephens, Lyndsay Wall, and Krissy Wendell while a Minnesota assistant coach. Frost has coached a total of 17 players to a combined 27 All-American honors. Among those All-Americans is 2013 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner Amanda Kessel and 2022 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner Taylor Heise. A total of 16 Minnesota student-athletes have been named Top-10 Patty Kaz finalists 25 times under Frost's tutelage.
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ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Under Frost's guidance, the Gophers have recorded a 3.0 or higher grade point average and increased the team's Academic Progress Rating (APR). Minnesota has accumulated 227 WCHA All-Academic Team awards (20 in 2023-24), 108 WCHA Scholar Athlete honors (11 in 2023-24) and three WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year award recipients (Alex Woken, 2020; Gigi Marvin, 2009; Kelly Terry, 2014) since Frost took reign.
INTERNATIONAL COACHING EXPERIENCE
Frost has served USA Hockey by working development camps and serving as a coach for various U.S. teams. In 2006, he was an assistant coach of the U.S. Under-22 Team, and from 2008-09, he was an assistant coach for the U.S. National Team.
PERSONAL LIFE
Frost grew up in Burlington, Ontario, and attended Aldershot High School. After graduating from Aldershot, he decided to attend college at Bethel University, which is where his parents originally met. While at Bethel, he studied Physical & Health Education and was a two-sport athlete, competing in hockey and golf. Frost was a four-year letterwinner in hockey and completed his career ranked eighth on Bethel's career scoring list. In 1994 and 1995, he was voted the team's Most Valuable Player and Most Inspirational. He also captained the Royals his junior and senior seasons. At Bethel, Frost met his wife Dayna. They now reside in Cottage Grove, Minn., and have three sons: Micah, Jonah and Josiah.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT COACH FROST
"Brad Frost was a great coach because he took the time to work with me on my individual game and was able to effectively convey systems and game plans to us as players. Brad was always supportive and a great leader for the team."
-- Kelly Stephens, former Minnesota team captain and two-time U.S. Olympian
"Brad Frost has been a part of this program for many years, and I believe he will continue the strong tradition that has been built at Minnesota. His experience, knowledge, and positive personality give him the tools to be successful, and I wish him all the best."
-- Former Minnesota women's hockey coach Laura Halldorson
| Brad Frost's Coaching Record at Minnesota | |||||
| Year | Record | WCHA Record | WCHA Regular Season | WCHA Postseason | NCAA Postseason |
| 2007-08 | 27-7-4 | 21-5-2 | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | NCAA Regionals |
| 2008-09 | 32-5-3 | 23-2-3-2 | WCHA Champions | 2nd Place | T-3rd Place |
| 2009-10 | 26-9-5 | 18-6-4-3 | WCHA Co-Champions | 2nd Place | NCAA Regionals |
| 2010-11 | 26-10-2 | 18-8-2-1 | T-2nd Place | 2nd Place | NCAA Regionals |
| 2011-12 | 34-5-2 | 21-5-2-1 | 2nd Place | WCHA Champions | NCAA Champions |
| 2012-13 | 41-0-0 | 28-0-0-0 | WCHA Champions | WCHA Champions | NCAA Champions |
| 2013-14 | 38-2-1 | 26-1-1-0 | WCHA Champions | WCHA Champions | NCAA Runners-Up |
| 2014-15 | 34-3-4 | 22-2-4-2 | WCHA Champions | T-3rd Place | NCAA Champions |
| 2015-16 | 35-4-1 | 24-3-1-0 | 2nd Place | 2nd Place | NCAA Champions |
| 2016-17 | 26-8-5 | 19-4-5-3 | 2nd Place | T-3rd Place | T-3rd Place |
| 2017-18 | 24-11-3 | 13-8-3-0 | 3rd Place | WCHA Champions | NCAA Regionals |
| 2018-19 | 32-6-1 | 19-4-1-0 | WCHA Champions | 2nd Place | NCAA Runners-Up |
| 2019-20 | 27-6-3 | 17-5-2-1 | 2nd Place | T-3rd Place | NCAA Regionals (Canceled) |
| 2020-21 | 11-8-1 | 11-7-1-1 | 4th Place | T-3rd Place | DNQ |
| 2021-22 | 29-9-1 | 21-6-1-1 | WCHA Champions | 2nd Place | NCAA Regionals |
| 2022-23 | 30-6-3 | 22-3-3-3 | 2nd Place | WCHA Champions | T-3rd Place |
| 2023-24 | 27-10-2 | 19-7-2 | 3rd Place | T-3rd Place | NCAA Regionals |
| 2024-25 | 29-12-1 | 19-8-1 | 3rd Place | 2nd Place | T-3rd Place |
| Total | 528-121-42 | 361-84-38-21 | 7 WCHA reg. season titles | 5 WCHA titles | 4 NCAA titles |
