Nick Oliver Named Head Coach of St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey
4/12/2026 6:30:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Oliver returns home to lead the Huskies as the fourth head coach of the Division-I era
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State University Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner has announced Nick Oliver as the next men's hockey head coach. Oliver returns to his alma mater to become the fourth head coach of the D-I era (since 1987-88) and 19th overall in program history.
A press conference to welcome Coach Oliver to campus is scheduled for Monday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m. CT in the Cascade room of Atwood Memorial Center. A live stream of the event will be available on the SCSU Athletics YouTube channel.
"This is an exciting time for St. Cloud State Hockey as we are thrilled to welcome Nick Oliver back to St. Cloud State University as our next head hockey coach," said Schreiner. "Nick's track record of success with recruiting, developing talent, and winning, paired with him being an alum makes this the ideal fit at the right time. We are so excited to welcome Nick and his wonderful family back to St. Cloud and can't wait for this next chapter of Husky Hockey."
"I'm humbled and honored for the opportunity to be the next head coach of St. Cloud State Men's Hockey," said Oliver "I appreciate the support of President Tomso, Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner and the entire search committee for putting their trust in me. I'm excited to start the process of building relationships and connecting with our current and incoming players. We have tremendous alumni and supporters of the program that I look forward to speaking with. My family and I couldn't be more excited to call St. Cloud home again."
A former Husky captain, Oliver ascended the coaching rankings quickly, spending seven seasons in collegiate hockey and four in the United States Hockey League (USHL) while helping his teams reach two NCAA Frozen Fours as an Assistant Coach and a USHL regular season championship as a head coach. He is the only coach or player to be a part of both NCAA Frozen Fours in SCSU history, playing in the 2013 Frozen Four and serving as an assistant on the 2021 team that reached the national championship game. Oliver has played or coached in seven of nine NCAA Tournament wins for the Huskies and six of 17 NCAA Tournament appearances in program history.
Oliver returns to St. Cloud for the second time after spending the past three seasons at Wisconsin under SCSU alum Mike Hastings. The Badgers have reached the NCAA Tournament twice in Oliver's three seasons on the bench, including a trip to the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four and National Championship game, which was the program's first Frozen Four and national title game appearance since 2010. Oliver coached the forward group during his time in Madison with three Badgers earning All-Big Ten honors.
Before returning to the collegiate game, Oliver spent one season (2022-23) as head coach of the Fargo Force of the USHL, leading the organization to 40 victories, a league-best 88 points and the franchise's first Anderson Cup as USHL regular-season champions. Oliver was named USHL Coach of the Year for his efforts and helped lead the Force to the Clark Cup final.
Oliver spent four seasons (2018-22) on the bench for one of the most successful four-year runs of Husky Hockey, helping the Huskies to an 81-44-9 mark, three NCAA Tournaments, a NCHC Spencer Penrose regular season championship and a NCAA Frozen Four appearance. The Huskies first season with Oliver on the bench (2018-19) was one of the most successful in program history, with SCSU posting a 30-6-3 record while winning the NCHC regular season title with a conference record 19 wins and 66 points before earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies then advanced to its second-ever NCAA Frozen Four and first NCAA national championship game appearance in 2021 with Oliver helping behind the bench.
Oliver began his coaching career immediately after his collegiate playing career concluded in 2015, spending three seasons with the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede (2015-18) as an assistant coach and director of scouting.
The Roseau, Minn., native played in 145 career games at SCSU from 2011-15, serving as a team captain his senior year and alternate captain as a junior. He earned three Academic All-Conference honors and was named the 2015 NCHC Sportsmanship Award recipient. The Huskies won the WCHA regular season title in 2013, the inaugural NCHC regular season title in 2014, made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament (2013-15) and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time in program history in 2013. Oliver was a 2009 NHL draft pick of the Nashville Predators and played for the Fargo Force (USHL) from 2008-11.
Oliver is a 2015 SCSU graduate with a degree in business finance. He and his wife, Alex, have three children, Thomas, Lenna and Grant. His wife Alex (Makaric) played three seasons with the St. Cloud State Women's Hockey team from 2013-16.
THE OLIVER FILE
Coaching Experience
2015-18: Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), Assistant Coach
2018-22: St. Cloud State (NCAA), Assistant Coach
2022-23: Fargo Force (USHL), Head Coach
2023-26: Wisconsin (NCAA), Assistant Coach
Playing Experience
2008-11: Fargo Force (USHL)
2011-15: St. Cloud State (NCAA)
Coaching Accolades
"Nick Oliver is one of the true up and coming superstars in our business. His knowledge of the game and relentless work ethic makes this an awesome hire for St. Cloud State and Husky Hockey." – Bob Motzko, former St. Cloud State Men's Hockey head coach
"Nick and I have had many great coaching and hockey conversations over the last few years and his hockey mind is elite. He understands recruiting, team building, and how to create a winning mindset. Smart X's and O's guy who knows how to communicate." – Dave Starman, Westwood One Sports & college hockey media personality
"I think having Oli come back to where he played is so special. I also think it shows the trajectory of where the Huskies are headed. Having Nick come back should show some vibrancy in not only the program but the school. A young coach who's done so well wherever he's been is something that St. Cloud is going to benefit from on and off the ice. That's the energy the team and school needs to get back to being a top competitor and a place where people are proud to be a Husky. Nick is a great leader for future of the program and I can't wait to see the success he brings to the school and the team." – Ryan Poehling, Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
"Getting to know Nick while being recruited to St. Cloud, it was immediately evident how highly he was respected by his teammates. I was then lucky enough to play for him my senior year and experience that leadership first-hand. His ability to connect with players and high character as a person, combined with his knowledge of the game makes him the high-quality coach that he is. Every Husky, past and present should be extremely excited to have him at the helm." – Jimmy Schuldt, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)
"I loved playing for Oli when he was on the staff at St. Cloud and I know he'll have success with the program. I think his coaching speaks for itself with him having success wherever he has been. One of the things I saw playing for him is you want to play for him and that makes the adversity throughout the year so much easier to get through. I think that bond is created all over, it definitely didn't go unnoticed from the player's perspective and I know he will carry that into being a head coach. Him being an alum and being able to connect to his recruits and players will be a huge assist in recruiting. I am so happy to see Oli be the next head coach and know the program is in good hands!" – Nick Perbix, Nashville Predators (NHL)
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
A press conference to welcome Coach Oliver to campus is scheduled for Monday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m. CT in the Cascade room of Atwood Memorial Center. A live stream of the event will be available on the SCSU Athletics YouTube channel.
"This is an exciting time for St. Cloud State Hockey as we are thrilled to welcome Nick Oliver back to St. Cloud State University as our next head hockey coach," said Schreiner. "Nick's track record of success with recruiting, developing talent, and winning, paired with him being an alum makes this the ideal fit at the right time. We are so excited to welcome Nick and his wonderful family back to St. Cloud and can't wait for this next chapter of Husky Hockey."
"I'm humbled and honored for the opportunity to be the next head coach of St. Cloud State Men's Hockey," said Oliver "I appreciate the support of President Tomso, Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner and the entire search committee for putting their trust in me. I'm excited to start the process of building relationships and connecting with our current and incoming players. We have tremendous alumni and supporters of the program that I look forward to speaking with. My family and I couldn't be more excited to call St. Cloud home again."
A former Husky captain, Oliver ascended the coaching rankings quickly, spending seven seasons in collegiate hockey and four in the United States Hockey League (USHL) while helping his teams reach two NCAA Frozen Fours as an Assistant Coach and a USHL regular season championship as a head coach. He is the only coach or player to be a part of both NCAA Frozen Fours in SCSU history, playing in the 2013 Frozen Four and serving as an assistant on the 2021 team that reached the national championship game. Oliver has played or coached in seven of nine NCAA Tournament wins for the Huskies and six of 17 NCAA Tournament appearances in program history.
Oliver returns to St. Cloud for the second time after spending the past three seasons at Wisconsin under SCSU alum Mike Hastings. The Badgers have reached the NCAA Tournament twice in Oliver's three seasons on the bench, including a trip to the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four and National Championship game, which was the program's first Frozen Four and national title game appearance since 2010. Oliver coached the forward group during his time in Madison with three Badgers earning All-Big Ten honors.
Before returning to the collegiate game, Oliver spent one season (2022-23) as head coach of the Fargo Force of the USHL, leading the organization to 40 victories, a league-best 88 points and the franchise's first Anderson Cup as USHL regular-season champions. Oliver was named USHL Coach of the Year for his efforts and helped lead the Force to the Clark Cup final.
Oliver spent four seasons (2018-22) on the bench for one of the most successful four-year runs of Husky Hockey, helping the Huskies to an 81-44-9 mark, three NCAA Tournaments, a NCHC Spencer Penrose regular season championship and a NCAA Frozen Four appearance. The Huskies first season with Oliver on the bench (2018-19) was one of the most successful in program history, with SCSU posting a 30-6-3 record while winning the NCHC regular season title with a conference record 19 wins and 66 points before earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies then advanced to its second-ever NCAA Frozen Four and first NCAA national championship game appearance in 2021 with Oliver helping behind the bench.
Oliver began his coaching career immediately after his collegiate playing career concluded in 2015, spending three seasons with the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede (2015-18) as an assistant coach and director of scouting.
The Roseau, Minn., native played in 145 career games at SCSU from 2011-15, serving as a team captain his senior year and alternate captain as a junior. He earned three Academic All-Conference honors and was named the 2015 NCHC Sportsmanship Award recipient. The Huskies won the WCHA regular season title in 2013, the inaugural NCHC regular season title in 2014, made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament (2013-15) and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time in program history in 2013. Oliver was a 2009 NHL draft pick of the Nashville Predators and played for the Fargo Force (USHL) from 2008-11.
Oliver is a 2015 SCSU graduate with a degree in business finance. He and his wife, Alex, have three children, Thomas, Lenna and Grant. His wife Alex (Makaric) played three seasons with the St. Cloud State Women's Hockey team from 2013-16.
THE OLIVER FILE
Coaching Experience
2015-18: Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), Assistant Coach
2018-22: St. Cloud State (NCAA), Assistant Coach
2022-23: Fargo Force (USHL), Head Coach
2023-26: Wisconsin (NCAA), Assistant Coach
Playing Experience
2008-11: Fargo Force (USHL)
2011-15: St. Cloud State (NCAA)
Coaching Accolades
- Two NCAA Frozen Four appearances (2021, 2026)
- Five NCAA Tournament appearances (2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2026)
- Two All-Americans (two at SCSU)
- 11 All-Conference honorees (eight at SCSU, three at UW)
- 2022-23 USHL Coach of the Year
- 2023 USHL Anderson Cup championship
- Three NCAA Tournament appearances (2013-15)
- One NCAA Frozen Four appearance (2013)
- Two-time captain at SCSU (2014-15 captain, 2013-14 alternate)
- 2014-15 NCHC Sportsmanship Award
- Three-time Academic All-Conference (2013 WCHA, 2014-15 NCHC)
- 2009 NHL Draft pick (Nashville Predators, fourth round, 110th overall)
"Nick Oliver is one of the true up and coming superstars in our business. His knowledge of the game and relentless work ethic makes this an awesome hire for St. Cloud State and Husky Hockey." – Bob Motzko, former St. Cloud State Men's Hockey head coach
"Nick and I have had many great coaching and hockey conversations over the last few years and his hockey mind is elite. He understands recruiting, team building, and how to create a winning mindset. Smart X's and O's guy who knows how to communicate." – Dave Starman, Westwood One Sports & college hockey media personality
"I think having Oli come back to where he played is so special. I also think it shows the trajectory of where the Huskies are headed. Having Nick come back should show some vibrancy in not only the program but the school. A young coach who's done so well wherever he's been is something that St. Cloud is going to benefit from on and off the ice. That's the energy the team and school needs to get back to being a top competitor and a place where people are proud to be a Husky. Nick is a great leader for future of the program and I can't wait to see the success he brings to the school and the team." – Ryan Poehling, Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
"Getting to know Nick while being recruited to St. Cloud, it was immediately evident how highly he was respected by his teammates. I was then lucky enough to play for him my senior year and experience that leadership first-hand. His ability to connect with players and high character as a person, combined with his knowledge of the game makes him the high-quality coach that he is. Every Husky, past and present should be extremely excited to have him at the helm." – Jimmy Schuldt, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)
"I loved playing for Oli when he was on the staff at St. Cloud and I know he'll have success with the program. I think his coaching speaks for itself with him having success wherever he has been. One of the things I saw playing for him is you want to play for him and that makes the adversity throughout the year so much easier to get through. I think that bond is created all over, it definitely didn't go unnoticed from the player's perspective and I know he will carry that into being a head coach. Him being an alum and being able to connect to his recruits and players will be a huge assist in recruiting. I am so happy to see Oli be the next head coach and know the program is in good hands!" – Nick Perbix, Nashville Predators (NHL)
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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