Head Coach Dave Hakstol
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Three seasons as head coach - three berths in the NCAA Frozen Four. That's what Dave Hakstol has accomplished since taking over as head coach of the University of North Dakota men's hockey team in July of 2004.
Just two other coaches (Jack Parker/first five years at Boston University and Doug Woog/ first four years at Minnesota) have achieved that feat.
Last season, Hakstol led UND to a 24-14-5 overall record and 13-10-5 WCHA mark (third place). In addition to North Dakota's third straight trip to the Frozen Four, the year was highlighted by sophomore forward Ryan Duncan winning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the best player in college hockey.
In Hakstol's first season (2004-05) as head coach, he led a team with nine seniors to the Frozen Four. In his second season (2005-06), he led a team with 13 freshmen and just two seniors to the Frozen Four.
In three seasons, Hakstol has compiled a record of 79-44-11 (.631) overall.
A key in Hakstol's success has been surrounding himself with an outstanding coaching staff. His first two seasons, he was joined by associate head coach Brad Berry and assistant coach Cary Eades. Eades has won championships on every level at which he has played or coached. Berry's outstanding work at UND resulted in him accepting an assistant coach position in the NHL's Vancouver Canucks organization in the summer of 2006.
To fill the vacancy created by Berry's departure, Eades was promoted to associate head coach and last summer Hakstol hired former Sioux and NHL player Dane Jackson as an assistant coach. Jackson, who had an 11-year career as a professional hockey player, immediately became an integral part of the coaching staff by working individually with each Fighting Sioux player on developing their skills.
Impressive post-season record: the trademark of the Fighting Sioux during Hakstol's first three seasons has been UND's ability to play its best hockey at the most crucial time of the year - in the playoffs. During his first three years, Hakstol has led the Sioux to an overall postseason record of 18-6 (.750) that includes an 11-3 WCHA playoff record and 7-3 NCAA playoff mark. UND's 11 WCHA playoff wins the last three seasons are two more than any other WCHA team, and UND's seven NCAA playoff wins the last three seasons are tied with Boston College for most in the nation during that time.
Three-time finalist for national coaching record: After UND's impressive post-season runs in each of the last three seasons, Hakstol has been honored as a national finalist for the American Hockey Coaches Association's Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. In 2005, he was one of three coaches named as runner-up for the prestigious award.
A prestigious coaching position: Hakstol was named the University of North Dakota's head men's hockey coach on July 9, 2004, becoming just the 15th head men's hockey coach in school history and only the fourth Fighting Sioux head coach in the past 36 years. The 37-year old Hakstol, a Sioux player from 1989-92, is also just the fifth former UND player to also become head coach at North Dakota.
Taking over a tradition-rich program that is synonymous with the word "excellence" was no small task, but Hakstol's background prepared him for the challenge. Prior to taking over as UND's head coach, the former Sioux captain was a member of Dean Blais's coaching staff for four seasons and in that stint helped coach the Sioux to a 101-47-19 (.662) overall record and 63-33-16 (.634) WCHA record.
During Hakstol's four years under Blais, UND won two WCHA titles, made three NCAA appearances and finished as the 2001 national runnerup.
Named a UND assistant coach on July 1, 2000, Hakstol was elevated to associate head coach in December 2000, and he served as the team's recruiting coordinator in his four seasons working under Blais.
In that capacity, Hakstol played a vital role in helping attract top-caliber student-athletes to UND. Eleven UND players or recruits were drafted by National Hockey League teams while Hakstol and current associate head coach Brad Berry were Sioux assistants.
Since becoming head coach, Hakstol has seen an amazing total of 16 players who signed national letters of intent to attend UND drafted in the last three NHL Entry Drafts.
Experienced junior hockey coach: Prior to joining the UND staff on July 1, 2000, Hakstol spent four seasons (1996-2000) as the general manager and head coach of the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League, posting winning seasons in his last three seasons. Overall, Hakstol had a 101-109-13 record with the Musketeers. He was named the USHL Coach of the Year in 1997-98, when he led Sioux City to a 32-21-3 record.
While coaching at Sioux City, Hakstol also coached the 1998 USA/USHL hockey team at the IIHF Four Nationals Cup in Oslo, Norway, and he was the head coach of the Central District team (USA Hockey) at the National Select 16 Festival in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1998.
Professional, collegiate playing experience: Before beginning his coaching career, Hakstol played professional hockey with the IHL's Minnesota Moose from 1994-96, serving as team captain for two years, and with the IHL's Indianapolis Ice from 1992-1994, serving as team captain for one season. In five professional seasons, Hakstol played in 250 games, scoring 12 goals and recording 37 assists. He also accumulated 455 penalty minutes.
As a defenseman on the Sioux hockey team from 1989-92, Hakstol was a three-year letterwinner and served as team captain from 1990 to 1992. He played in 107 games for UND, scoring 10 goals and adding 36 assists for 46 points. He had 77 penalties for 191 minutes.