After this season Don Lucia has one year remaining on his contract as Gophers men’s hockey coach. He wants to continue indefinitely in the job he has held since 1999.
“Yeah, I would like to come back,” Lucia told Sports Headliners last week. “This is my 29th year as a head coach and I will be 58 this summer, but I still love what I do.”
If University of Minnesota officials don’t give Lucia a contract extension it will leave him in an awkward position this offseason and during the 2016-2017 schedule. Rival coaches can tell high school recruits the Gophers’ hockey future is in doubt. Minnesota’s assistant coaches and players will question the school’s commitment to the head coach.
Lucia doesn’t think that’s a direction he’s headed. “Yeah, I think after the season we’ll sit down and talk. We’ll see where the University is at and we’ll see where I am at, and what they want to do going forward.”
It’s not clear what direction University administrators will take. This is a time of transition in the athletic department with no permanent athletic director. Does University president Eric Kaler want interim athletic director Beth Goetz to make a recommendation soon on Lucia’s contract and future?
Maybe. Goetz was allowed an important hire last week when the Gophers named Ayo Taylor-Dixon a senior associate athletic director with responsibilities for department marketing, sales and service. Some observers find the hire curious believing such an important slot should be filled when a new AD is in place—but perhaps Kaler is already leaning toward naming Goetz for the position that has been open since last summer.
The Gophers entered this season with more wins (105) the last four seasons than any Division I men’s program. Minnesota also made program history by winning consecutive regular season league titles the last five years, with two championships in the WCHA and the last three in the Big Ten including in 2016.
The five straight titles ties Boston College (1994-1998) for the NCAA record for consecutive conference championships, but overall it’s been a somewhat mediocre season for Minnesota. The Big Ten record is 14-6 and for all games it’s 19-16, with inconsistency characterizing Minnesota’s play. Instead of being ranked among the nation’s elite in polls, the Gophers have struggled to be in the top 20.
Minnesota has a storied program with high expectations including national championships. Lucia’s teams won consecutive NCAA titles in 2002 and 2003 but none since. The Gophers did lose the national title game two years ago to Union. Lucia has long had his critics and the “chorus” has been loud this season.
Lucia can diminish criticism if his team qualifies for the NCAA Tournament and makes an impressive run toward the Frozen Four in April. The Gophers play in the Big Ten Tournament at Xcel Energy Center starting Friday night. The tourney winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers’ entry to the NCAA field will come only if they emerge as Big Ten Tournament champions on Saturday, because their overall resume isn’t worthy of an at-large selection based on the data used to select teams.
Lucia said “great goaltending” and defense are the most important elements in playoff hockey. He has one of the best NCAA freshman goalies in Eric Schierhorn. “We’ve proven that we can beat good teams, but we’re not a dominant team where we can play an average game and win,” Lucia said. “The guys understand that.”
Reality may well be the Gophers are better next season than now. Lucia is playing seven or eight freshmen most games, including Schierhorn. More experience will help younger players and so will becoming physically stronger. “Some of them need to make a step in the weight room and that can’t happen overnight,” Lucia said. “It’s gotta be in that offseason of physical training.”
There’s no doubt Lucia wants to coach next year’s team and others that follow. “I am at that point as long as you still enjoy what you’re doing, you want to continue to do it,” he said. “I think I am in good shape. I physically take care of myself. Some guys coach until they’re 70. I don’t think I’ll be doing that. I’d like to continue to do it for a few more years.”
No matter when the Gophers play their last game this season, Lucia will take a complete view of 2016-2017. “Do you want to try to win a national title? Sure you do. I am still disappointed we didn’t a couple years ago. Union did. I don’t judge any year on ‘did you win your last game?’ It’s difficult to win your last game. I judge more on did the kids get better? Did the kids have a positive experience and did we maximize our abilities?”
Academic achievement from his players is important, too. This year’s team has a cumulative GPA of 3.2. Lucia said that for many years only one player who stayed in the program four years hasn’t earned a degree.
Worth Noting
Lucia’s list of incentives with the University agreed to in 2012 rewards him with $30,000 for winning a regular season conference championship, $15,000 for a conference tournament title and the same amount for a Gophers’ invitation to the NCAA Tournament, plus $30,000 for an NCAA regional final, $50,000 for the Frozen Four and $75,000 for winning it.
The 10 candidates announced today for the 2016 Hobey Baker Memorial Award honoring college hockey’s top player are: JT Compher, Michigan; Kyle Connor, Michigan; Thatcher Demko, Boston College; Zac Lynch, Robert Morris; Alex Lyon, Yale; Tyler Motte, Michigan; Alex Petan, Michigan Tech; Andrew Poturalski, New Hampshire; Ethan Prow, St. Cloud State; Jimmy Vesey, Harvard. The 10 finalists were selected by voting from all 60 Division I college hockey head coaches and by online fan balloting.
As of yesterday Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith at No. 18 was Pro Football Talk’s highest ranked remaining NFL free agent without a contract or franchise tag. Smith is reportedly deciding between the Vikings and Cardinals.
Charles “Chip” Taylor, Jr. is the new Hamline head football coach replacing Chad Rogosheske who accepted the head job at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio to be nearer family. Taylor came to Hamline as defensive coordinator in 2013 when Rogosheske was named coach. Taylor’s resume includes summer internships with the NFL’s Cardinals and Chiefs.
The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame hosts its 9th annual Minnesota Football Honors event April 17 at the Hilton Minneapolis. Among those to be recognized for awards are: Jon Christenson, University of Minnesota, Stein-Fallon Scholar-Athlete; Casey O’Brien, Cretin-Derham Hall High School, Courage Award; Joshua Gordon, Minnesota State University, Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year Award; Mohamed Mahamud, Washburn High School, Stacy Robinson Leadership Award ($2,000 scholarship); Stan Nelson, Bud Grant Distinguished Minnesotan Award; Grady Rostberg, Hutchinson High School, John Gagliardi Legacy; Missy Strauch, Augsburg University, Fred Zamberletti Award; Gene McGivern, University of St. Thomas, Sid Hartman Media Award; Minnehaha Academy, Highlight of the Year Award; Caledonia Area High School, Minnesota Football Program of the Year Award; 1975 Stillwater High School state football champions, Murray Warmath Legendary Team Award.
The following high school scholar-athlete award winners receive $2,000 scholarships: Matthew Biegler, Underwood High School; Isaac Collins, Maple Grove High School; Cory Dixon, Patrick Henry High School; Andrew Haldeman, Harding High School; Ethan Ishaug, Barnesville High School; Kiefer Miller, Nevis High School; Conner Olson, Monticello High School; Elijah Rice, St. Michael-Albertville High School.
The event is open to the public and includes a social hour starting at 5 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards program. More at Minnesotafootballhonors.com.