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/ Men's HockeyCoach Bob Motzko
St. Cloud State men's hockey coach Bob Motzko resigns, accepts job at Minnesota
3/27/2018 12:54:00 PM | Men's Hockey
St. Cloud State University men's hockey coach Bob Motzko, who led the Huskies'Â program to eight NCAA tournament appearances and three regular season conference championships in 13 seasons, announced his resignation today and was named head coach of the University of Minnesota men's hockey program.
St. Cloud State University Director of Athletics Heather Weems said that the search for a new head coach to replace Motzko will commence.
 "I want to thank Bob Motzko for helping position St. Cloud State University among the nation's elite intercollegiate men's hockey programs," Weems said. "As an alum of St. Cloud State, Coach Motzko has set a new standard of excellence for the Huskies. This commitment will continue as St. Cloud State begins a national search for its new head coach."
Motzko was named the Huskies head coach in 2005 and charted an impressive 276-192-49 record during his tenure at St. Cloud State. He was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2018 and was also named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007.
Under Motzko's leadership, the Huskies won the WCHA regular season championship in 2013 and then went on to win another regular season league title in the new NCHC in 2014. Motzko's Huskies won the NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship in 2016 and St. Cloud State claimed its second Penrose Cup with a regular season NCHC title in 2018.Â
His teams have consistently been ranked among the nation's top 20 teams and the Huskies were ranked number one in the country for nine weeks in 2017-18.
In the NCAA tournament, Motzko's team have been a regular player with eight appearances during his time in St. Cloud. His teams gained bids in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. In 2013, the Huskies won the NCAA Midwest Regional title and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time in team history.
Individual honors have been numerous during the Motzko era at St. Cloud State. His players have gained All-America honors eight times since 2006 and six SCSU players have been selected as Hobey Baker Award top 10 finalists since 2007. This group also includes Hobey Baker Award winner Drew LeBlanc in 2013 and Hobey Baker Top Three Finalist Nic Dowd in 2014.
Several SCSU players have gone on to play professional hockey since 2005-06, including 14 former Huskies who have skated in NHL games. Motzko's former players who have seen ice time in the NHL this season include Charlie Lindgren (Montreal), Kalle Kossila (Anaheim), Jonny Brodzinski (Los Angeles), Kevin Gravel (Los Angeles), Nic Dowd (Vancouver) and Nick Jensen (Detroit).
A total of 21 Huskies have been selected in the NHL draft since 2006 – including the program's first two first round draft picks (Dennis Chowloski in 2016 and Ryan Poehling in 2017).
On the international stage, Motzko served as the head coach of Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships and helped lead the USA to a gold medal finish in 2017 and a bronze medal in 2018.
Motzko's teams have also found success in the classroom as the Huskies have gained Academic All-Conference honors 194 times since 2006, and three Huskies have earned CoSIDA Academic All-America status since 2012. In 2013, Brooks Bertsch received the NCAA's Elite 89 Award at the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh.
"As a proud alumni of St. Cloud State, it has been my honor and privilege to serve as the Huskies' head coach the past 13 seasons," Motzko said. "I have been fortunate to work with outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff during my time on campus. These people are some of the best in college hockey and they have helped position St. Cloud State among the top programs in the nation on a yearly basis. I want to thank my players, staff and our fans for their support and contributions to the success we have enjoyed."
Prior to being named the head coach at SCSU, Motzko served as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota from 2001-05 under head coach Don Lucia.
A 1987 graduate of SCSU, Motzko served as a head coach for North Iowa (USHL) from 1987-91 and Sioux Falls (USHL) from 1998-2001 along with associate head coach assignments with Miami (Ohio) from 1991-93 and 1994-98 and Denver from 1993-94.
University of Minnesota release
St. Cloud State University Hockey Coaching History
(NCAA Division I era):Â
Years         Name                   Overall Record
1987-05     Craig Dahl       338-309-52
2005-18     Bob Motzko           276-192-49
St. Cloud State University Director of Athletics Heather Weems said that the search for a new head coach to replace Motzko will commence.
 "I want to thank Bob Motzko for helping position St. Cloud State University among the nation's elite intercollegiate men's hockey programs," Weems said. "As an alum of St. Cloud State, Coach Motzko has set a new standard of excellence for the Huskies. This commitment will continue as St. Cloud State begins a national search for its new head coach."
Motzko was named the Huskies head coach in 2005 and charted an impressive 276-192-49 record during his tenure at St. Cloud State. He was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2018 and was also named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007.
Under Motzko's leadership, the Huskies won the WCHA regular season championship in 2013 and then went on to win another regular season league title in the new NCHC in 2014. Motzko's Huskies won the NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship in 2016 and St. Cloud State claimed its second Penrose Cup with a regular season NCHC title in 2018.Â
His teams have consistently been ranked among the nation's top 20 teams and the Huskies were ranked number one in the country for nine weeks in 2017-18.
In the NCAA tournament, Motzko's team have been a regular player with eight appearances during his time in St. Cloud. His teams gained bids in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. In 2013, the Huskies won the NCAA Midwest Regional title and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time in team history.
Individual honors have been numerous during the Motzko era at St. Cloud State. His players have gained All-America honors eight times since 2006 and six SCSU players have been selected as Hobey Baker Award top 10 finalists since 2007. This group also includes Hobey Baker Award winner Drew LeBlanc in 2013 and Hobey Baker Top Three Finalist Nic Dowd in 2014.
Several SCSU players have gone on to play professional hockey since 2005-06, including 14 former Huskies who have skated in NHL games. Motzko's former players who have seen ice time in the NHL this season include Charlie Lindgren (Montreal), Kalle Kossila (Anaheim), Jonny Brodzinski (Los Angeles), Kevin Gravel (Los Angeles), Nic Dowd (Vancouver) and Nick Jensen (Detroit).
A total of 21 Huskies have been selected in the NHL draft since 2006 – including the program's first two first round draft picks (Dennis Chowloski in 2016 and Ryan Poehling in 2017).
On the international stage, Motzko served as the head coach of Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships and helped lead the USA to a gold medal finish in 2017 and a bronze medal in 2018.
Motzko's teams have also found success in the classroom as the Huskies have gained Academic All-Conference honors 194 times since 2006, and three Huskies have earned CoSIDA Academic All-America status since 2012. In 2013, Brooks Bertsch received the NCAA's Elite 89 Award at the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh.
"As a proud alumni of St. Cloud State, it has been my honor and privilege to serve as the Huskies' head coach the past 13 seasons," Motzko said. "I have been fortunate to work with outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff during my time on campus. These people are some of the best in college hockey and they have helped position St. Cloud State among the top programs in the nation on a yearly basis. I want to thank my players, staff and our fans for their support and contributions to the success we have enjoyed."
Prior to being named the head coach at SCSU, Motzko served as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota from 2001-05 under head coach Don Lucia.
A 1987 graduate of SCSU, Motzko served as a head coach for North Iowa (USHL) from 1987-91 and Sioux Falls (USHL) from 1998-2001 along with associate head coach assignments with Miami (Ohio) from 1991-93 and 1994-98 and Denver from 1993-94.
University of Minnesota release
St. Cloud State University Hockey Coaching History
(NCAA Division I era):Â
Years         Name                   Overall Record
1987-05     Craig Dahl       338-309-52
2005-18     Bob Motzko           276-192-49
Men's Hockey Postgame Press Conference 3-8-25
Sunday, March 09
Men's Hockey Postgame Press Conference 3-7-25
Saturday, March 08
Men's Hockey Postgame Press Conference 2-22-25
Sunday, February 23
Men's Hockey Postgame Press Conference 2-21-25
Saturday, February 22
