Miami University in Oxford, Ohio promotes itself as the “Cradle of Coaches”. According to the official MU web page, more than 100 Miami graduates were active in coaching or administrative work in the professional and collegiate levels.
On the hockey side, Miami lists two of their hockey alumni (George Gwozdecky and Enrico Blasi) as hockey coaches.
Miami is not the only school that can make this claim. Many of UND’s former hockey players and coaches are also active in coaching or administrative at the professional and collegiate levels. One “could” make the argument that North Dakota is hockey’s Cradle of Coaches.
UND’s Current Coaching Staff
Brad Berry (1983-86) – Played three seasons at UND. Berry left UND and played in 241 NHL games from (1986-94) with three different teams (Winnipeg, Minnesota and Dallas).
When his playing career was over, Berry returned to UND as an assistant coach from (2000-2006).
Berry was an assistant coach with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose (2006-08).
Berry was also a scout with the Vancouver Canucks (2008-10). Finally, Berry was an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.
Coach Berry returned to UND as an assistant coach prior to the (2012-13) season. UND promoted Brad Berry to the head coach position on May 18, 2015, when coach Hakstol was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Dane Jackson (1989-92) – Played four seasons with UND. After UND, Jackson played 11 seasons (1992-03) in the AHL and the NHL.
After his playing career was over, Jackson became an assistant coach with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League (2003-05). Jackson was the head coach of the Adirondack Frostbite of the United Hockey League.
Jackson joined the University of North Dakota coaching staff for the (2006-07) season. Jackson was promoted to associate head coach this past summer.
Karl Goehring (1997-2001) – The former All-American goalie spent four seasons at UND. Goehring backstopped the Fighting Sioux to an NCAA title in 2000.
After UND, Goehring spent nine seasons in the East Coast Hockey League and the AHL (2001-09). Prior to coming back to UND, Goehring was an assistant coach with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch (2009-10).
Goehring has been a volunteer assistant coach with UND for five seasons (2010-15).
Former UND Players Coaching in the NHL
Currently, there are four former UND hockey players coaching in the NHL. Two of them are head coaches.
Dave Hakstol (1989-92) – Played three seasons at UND. After UND, Hakstol played in parts of five seasons (1992-1996) in the IHL.
Prior to coming to UND, Hakstol was the head coach and general manager of the United States Hockey League’s Sioux City Musketeers from (1996-00).
Hakstol was an assistant under Dean Blais (2000-04) and assumed the head coaching duties prior to the (2004-05) season.
In his 11 seasons (2004-15) behind the UND bench, coach Hakstol racked up an impressive 289-143-43 (.654) record.
During his time at UND, Hakstol’s teams qualified for the NCAA playoffs every season and advanced to seven Frozen Fours. The only accomplishment to evade Hakstol during his 11 seasons at UND, an NCAA title.
Hakstol led UND to two MacNaughton Cups (WCHA regular season champion), four Broadmoor Trophies (WCHA playoff champion) and a National College Hockey Conference Championship.
On May 18, 2015, coach Hakstol shocked the college hockey world by announcing his resignation to accept the Philadelphia Flyers head coaching position.
James Patrick (1981-83) – Played two seasons at UND. After UND, Patrick went on to play 21 seasons in the NHL. Patrick played in 1280 games scoring (149g-490a—639pts).
After a long, successful NHL career, Patrick began his coaching career with the Buffalo Sabres (2006-13). When Lindy Ruff was ousted in Buffalo, Patrick followed Ruff to Dallas and has been his assistant in Dallas for the last two seasons.
Rick Wilson (1969-72) – Played two seasons at UND. After UND, Wilson played six seasons of professional hockey (1972-78).
When his playing career ended, Wilson began coaching at UND as an assistant from (1978-80). Upon leaving UND, Wilson was an assistant and head coach with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League (1980-88).
Wilson has spent the last 27 seasons coaching in the NHL as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders (1988-89), L.A. Kings (1989-92), Minnesota North Stars (1992-93), Dallas Stars (1993-09), Tampa bay Lightning (2009-10), and the Minnesota Wild (2011-15).
Dave Tippett (1981-83) – Played two seasons at UND. After UND, Tippett played 721 games in NHL with four different teams scoring (93g-169a—262pts).
During the (1994-95) season, Tippett was a player-coach for the Houston Aeros of the IHL.
After the (1994-95) season, Tippett retired from hockey and became the assistant coach with the Aeros. Halfway through the 1995-96 season, Tippett was promoted to head coach. Tippett would coach the Aeros from (1995-99), winning the IHL championship in 1999.
Tippett became an assistant coach with the L.A. Kings from (1999-02).
Tippett was the head coach of the Dallas Stars from 2002-09). Tippett was fired by the Dallas Stars in June of 2009. Tippett was hired by the Phoenix Coyotes prior to the (2009-10) season and has been the coach ever since.
Other Coaches With UND Connections
Dean Blais – The former All-American played his collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota Gophers. Blais came to the University of North Dakota as an assistant coach under Gino Gasparini for six seasons (1982-88).
After leaving UND, Blais went on to coach high school hockey at Roseau and International Falls High School (1989-94).
Blais returned to UND prior to the 1994-95 season and was the head coach from (1994-04). As UND’s head coach, Blais compiled a 262-115-34 (.678) record. Blais guided UND to two NCAA titles (1987, 2000).
During his tenure at UND, the Fighting Sioux won four NCAA titles, two as an assistant coach and two as a head coach. Blais left UND after the 2003-04 season become an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.
After leaving the Blue Jackets, Blais became the head coach of the Fargo Force of the USHL for the 2008-09 season.
Blais is entering his seventh season as the head coach of the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks. During his six seasons at UNO, Blais has compiled an 111-99-24 (.525) record.
John Marks (1967-70) – Former two-time All-American defenseman played two seasons at UND. After UND, Marks played two seasons for the Dallas Blackhawks of the CHL.
Marks played 10 seasons (1972-82) in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks. After leaving professional hockey, Marks became an assistant coach under Gino Gasperini (1982-86).
Marks left UND for the International Hockey League. Marks coached the Kalamazoo Wings for four seasons. Marks also coached 13 seasons in the East Coast Hockey League with the Charlotte Checkers and the Greenville Grrrowl (1993-06), winning two ECHL championships (1995-96, 2001-02).
Marks coached the Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League during the (2006-07) season.
Marks returned to the ECHL and coached the Pensacola Ice Pilots (2007-08) and the Augusta Lynx (2008-09).
After coaching the Dayton Gems of the IHL (2009-10), Marks became the head coach of the Fargo Force of the USHL for four seasons (2011-15). Marks officially retired from coaching after the 2014-15 season.
Carey Eades (1978-1982) – Played four seasons at UND, leading the Fighting Sioux to two NCAA titles (1980, 1982).
After playing four seasons at UND, Eades played for two seasons in the St. Louis Blues organization (1982-82). Eades’ professional career was cut short by an injury.
Eades returned to UND and was an assistant coach under John “Gino” Gasperini from (1984-1991). During that time, UND won an NCAA title in 1987.
Leaving UND, Eades coached the two seasons with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL (1991-93).
Eades would go on to coach the Warroad Warriors for 11 seasons compiling a 237-62-6 (.787) record. The Warriors won three Minnesota State Class “A” titles during Eades’ tenure.
Prior to the 2004-05 season, Eades returned to UND and was an assistant coach for eight more seasons (2004-12).
After the 2011-12 season, Eades was named head coach of the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL and coach them for three seasons (2012-15). Eades led the Stampede to the Clark Cup Championship this past season. Eades resigned from his coaching position in Sioux Falls to become the head coach of the Fargo Force.
Scott Sandelin (1982-86) – The former All-American defenseman played four seasons at UND. After UND, Sandelin played professional hockey in the AHL and the NHL from (1986-92).
Sandelin began his coaching career with the Fargo-Moorhead Express of the American Hockey Association during the (1992-93) season.
Sandelin was an assistant coach under former UND head coach Dean Blais at UND from (1994-00). On March 31, 2000, Sandelin became the 12th head coach of the University of Minnesota-Duluth. On April 9, 2011, Sandelin led the Bulldogs to their first-ever NCAA title.
Jason Herter (1988-91) – Played three seasons at UND. After leaving UND, Herter went on to play 11 seasons in the IHL and in Europe from (1991-02).
Herter is currently an assistant coach of the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Prior to joining the UMD Bulldogs staff, Herter was with the Fargo Force of the USHL for two seasons (2009-11) first as an assistant coach and then the head coach.
According to the official UMD hockey website, Herter started the Russell Stover AAA midget U16 and U18 teams out of Overland Park, Kan., and spent five years with that program coaching the U16 club before moving on to Fargo.
Craig Ludwig (1979-82) – Played three seasons at UND. Ludwig went on to play 17 seasons in the NHL.
Ludwig was also an assistant coach for the Utah Grizzlies and Dallas Stars. Ludwig also owned the Allen Americans of the CHL from (2012-14).
Mark Osiecki (1996-97) – The former Wisconsin Badgers defenseman was hired as an assistant coach with UND prior to the (1996-97) season. Osiecki helped coach Blais lead the Fighting Sioux to an NCAA championship during the 1996-97 season. After the 1996-97 season, Osiecki was hired as the head coach of the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL from (1997-04).
Osiecki was an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin (2004-10). Osiecki left Wisconsin to be the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes for three seasons (2011-13). Currently, Osiecki is an assistant coach with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL (2012-present).
Tony Hrkac (1984-85, 1986-87) – Former All-American and Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner played two seasons at UND. After UND, Hrkac played for numerous professional teams from (1987-2005). In 758 NHL games, Hrkac scored (132g-239a—371pts).
After a three-year hiatus, Hrkac played two more seasons in the AHL (2008-10).
Hrkac coached the Concordia University-Wisconsin Falcons hockey team for two seasons (2010-12). Hrkac was also an assistant coach with the Madison Capitals of the USHL during the 2014-15 season.
Brad Pascall (1988-92) – Played four seasons at UND. After leaving UND, Pascall played parts of three seasons (1993-95) in the AHL and the ECHL.
Pascall is an Assistant General Manager with the Calgary Flames.
Steve Peters (1987-90) – Played three seasons at UND. Peters is a video coach with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Brad Bombardir (1990-1994) – Played four seasons at UND. After UND, Bombardir spent six seasons in the New Jersey Devils organization (1994-00). Bombardir spent four more seasons with the Minnesota Wild (2000-04). Bombardir was traded to the Nashville Predators at the end of the (2003-04) season.
Currently, Bombadir is the Minnesota Wild’s Director of Player Development and Senior director of Community relations.
Coaching Legends
John “Gino” Gasparini (1964-67) – Played three seasons at UND. After UND, Gasparini played one season in the IHL (1968-69).
Gasparini returned to UND as an assistant coach (1971-73). Gasparini was the head coach at UND (1978-94). During his time as coach, Gasparini led UND to 4 MacNaughton Cups, 2 Broadmoor Trophies, 3 NCAA Titles, 4 Title Games.
Checking the record books, Gasparini is UND’s all-time winningest coach with a 392-248-25 (.608) record.
After being relieved of his coaching position at UND, Gasparini was hired as the USHL Commissioner and served in that position from (1994-03). Gasparini was the President of the USHL from (2003-09).
Robert H. “Bob” Peters (1957-58) – Played one season at UND. Peters was as an assistant coach at UND from (1961-64). Peters was UND’s head coach from (1964-1966).
Peters left UND and became the head coach at Bemidji State University from prior to the 1966-67 season. Peters was the head coach at BSU for 35 years (1966-01) racking up an impressive 744-313-51 (.694) record.
