Craig Dahl (2013) - Hall of Fame - St. Cloud State University Athletics

Craig Dahl

Induction:
2013

Craig Dahl, Men’s Ice Hockey Head Coach, 1987-2005
Craig Dahl coached the Husky hockey team for 18 seasons marking the longest tenure of a Husky hockey coach in the history of the program. He led the Huskies into NCAA Division I in 1987-88. His teams won 338 games and he holds the record for most coaching wins in a career after compiling a 338-309-52 mark. He coached at the collegiate level for 25 years posting an all-time coaching record of 414-396-54. Among his on-ice successes were the 2001 WCHA Final Five Title (Broadmoor Trophy), five NCAA tournament bids, including four straight in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, eight WCHA Final Five appearances in ten years (including a streak of seven straight appearances), and 1998 WCHA Coach of the Year honors. SCSU led the nation in scoring offense in 2001 and led Division I hockey on the power play during the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. Academics were a trademark in Dahl’s program. Over 87 Husky hockey players were named to the All-WCHA Academic team under his tutelage. He coached five All-Americans and one Hobey Baker Memorial Award top three finalist in Mark Hartigan, a 2002 finalist. Seventeen of his former players reached the National Hockey League including standouts Bret Hedican, Mark Parrish, Matt Cullen, Tyler Arnason, Ryan Malone and Duvie Westcott. Malone was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team in 2003-04. Dahl began his collegiate coaching career at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minn., in 1980, and spent five seasons with the Royals. He led the Royals to three consecutive conference playoff appearances and Bethel won the NAIA Consolation title in 1984. Dahl was named the MIAC Coach of the Year in 1985. He was the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for one season before coming to SCSU as an assistant coach to Herb Brooks during the 1986-87 season. The 1987-88 season, the first for Dahl as head coach at SCSU, also marked the Huskies’ first year as an NCAA Division I Independent.