Herb Brooks (1992) - Hall of Fame - St. Cloud State University Athletics

Herb Brooks

Induction:
1992

Herb Brooks was the 1992 SCSU Service to Athletics Award recipient. A native of St. Paul, Brooks played at Johnson High School before becoming a three-year letterwinner under John Mariucci at the University of Minnesota. He played on the 1964 and 1968 United States Olympic hockey teams and on five U.S. national teams. In 1972, Brooks took over as the head hockey coach at the University of Minnesota. He spent seven seasons with the Gophers, winning NCAA Division I national titles in 1974, 1976, and 1979 and compiled a 175-100-20 overall record. 1980, the year of the gold medal-winning "Miracle on Ice" team, was the year that catapulted Brooks into national prominence. His Team USA 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union led to an eventual gold medal win and captured the hearts of Americans.

In May 1986, Brooks surprised college and professional hockey by signing on as head hockey coach at SCSU, a NCAA Division III team at the time. He turned down several other offers, including an National Hockey League coaching job. Brooks' vision was to create a competitive team that could join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. His influence not only brought WCHA Division I hockey to SCSU, but also brought about the construction of the $9 million National Hockey Center.

In his one season at SCSU, Brooks guided the Huskies to a third place finish at the NCAA Division III championships in 1987.

After his departure from SCSU, Brooks coached again in the NHL with Minnesota, New Jersey and Pittsburgh. He also coached France's Olympic team at the 1998 Olympics and Team USA at the 2002 Olympics. He died in a tragic car accident in 2003. The National Hockey Center was later renamed in Brooks' honor and it is now called the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.