Michigan’s hockey program will head to the Frozen Four with a permanent head coach.
Brandon Naurato, an assistant on last year’s team, was named interim head coach in August after Mel Pearson was fired following a lengthy investigation into the climate of the program.
The interim tag was removed Friday. Details of his new five-year contract, which is agreed to in principle, will be finalized following the Frozen Four, according to a university news release.
The Wolverines (26-11-3), who won the Big Ten tournament title and are a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, will face Quinnipiac, another No. 1 seed, in a national semifinal on Thursday in Tampa, Florida. The winner will advance to face either No. 1 seed Minnesota or No. 2 seed Boston University on Saturday, April 9.
“I am thrilled that Brandon Naurato will continue to lead our ice hockey program, and it is with that knowledge that I am incredibly excited for the future of this storied program,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a release. “Simply put, Brandon has done a phenomenal job with this team over the past year. In his first year as the head coach, Brandon has kept his focus on the success of our student-athletes and staff who support the program…and the results of his leadership are clearly evident. He leads with positivity and with vision and has demonstrated his capability to lead at a high level. I look forward to watching the program sustain great success under his leadership.”
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The 38-year-old, who played for the Wolverines from 2006-09, had zero head coaching experience entering the year but has guided the team back to the Frozen Four, despite Michigan losing six of its top seven scorers and six top-40 NHL draft picks off last year’s squad that was the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.
The Wolverines have played their best hockey during the second half of the season, going 14-3-2 since Jan. 14. They beat Colgate 11-1 in their tournament opener, scoring the most goals in a tournament game since 1961, before edging Penn State 2-1 in overtime in Sunday’s regional final.
“Michigan holds a special place in my heart,” Naurato said in a release. “It’s where I met my wife and where I started my family. It’s where I want to be for a long time. I want to thank Warde Manuel and the administration for their support and trust with this program. I’d also like to thank the Michigan alumni and our incredible fans for their unwavering support throughout the season. We’re going to continue on what we’ve been building and I’m looking forward to putting more of my stamp on Michigan hockey and elevating it from where I found it. The ultimate goal is and always will be to win while simultaneously cultivating the student-athletes’ individual and group identities, on-ice skills, mental health and leadership skills.”
The Livonia native joined Michigan’s staff ahead of the 2021-22 season after spending three as a player development consultant with the Detroit Red Wings organization. He is a finalist for the 2023 Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the nation’s top college hockey coach.
Naurato’s proficiency in analytics and player development has been a driving force behind Michigan’s success this season, especially for the 12-player freshman class. The Wolverines lead the country in scoring, and freshman have accounted more than 50% of the team’s points.
“It’s definitely hard comin’ in – I couldn’t imagine having to take a team like that -- 12 freshmen,” Brindley said after practice Thursday. “Kind of got thrown in the fire a little bit but he’s been unbelievable. Probably one of the best coaches I’ve had. Just communication-wise, always down to talk, open door policy all the time. And his understanding of what we’re best at. We’re a fast team and we changed our forecheck halfway through the year. That’s probably been one of the best things that we’ve done as a team. He’s done a great job adapting and he’s been great this year. Hopefully, he’s here for a long time.”
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