KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan head hockey coach
Jeff Blashill has resigned his position with Western Michigan University on
Friday morning, effective immediately, to take an assistant coaching position with the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL.
“We
really want to thank coach Blashill for his dedicated and passionate
leadership with our student-athletes and his coaching staff. We wish him
nothing but the best as he moves on to a new chapter in his
professional career,” said director of athletics
Kathy Beauregard. “The
success we experienced and his multiple National Coach of the Year
honors speaks volumes to his talent as a coach and it also speaks
volumes to the hockey program we have here at Western Michigan
University. We are positioned perfectly for a high profile coaching
search. There has never been a better time to become our next new Bronco
hockey coach.”
“We believe we have one of the top ten programs
in the country and we made a decision as an institution to make our head
coaching position one of the ten highest paid in college hockey,”
continued Beauregard. “The hockey community is well aware of our
investment in our program and we know we're going to attract the
absolute best coaching candidates throughout North America. As a
director of athletics you're always building a bench of potential
coaching candidates to prepare for days like this when a head coach
departs. I am already receiving inquiries, have assembled a small
advisory committee and a comprehensive national search will begin
immediately.”
Beauregard added, “In the wake of the changing
landscape of college hockey there has been much discussion among
athletic directors on the potential realignment of conferences. Our
strategic plan for hockey is to position Western Michigan in the premier
hockey conference in the country that aligns us to compete for a
National Championship. To make this a reality, President Dunn, Coach
Blashill and I have been actively involved in these discussions. We have
traveled across the country to share our 'Why Western' story with
institutions in the West, East, with Notre Dame and obviously the CCHA.
We are at the table in these discussions and will make a thoughtful,
strategic plan for membership options that match, high academic and
hockey national prominence.”
Blashill led the Broncos to the CCHA
Tournament Finals and the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since
1996. He finished the season with a 19-13-10 record and was named
National Coach of the Year by USCHO.com, Inside College Hockey, College
Hockey News and was a finalist for CCHA Coach of the Year. Blashill also
helped freshmen
Danny DeKeyser and
Chase Balisy to the CCHA All-Rookie
Team and both were named Freshmen All-Americans by Inside College
Hockey.
“
Today
is a very emotional day for me,” said Blashill. “I am extremely excited
for the opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream to coach in the NHL with
the best organization in sports; the Detroit Red Wings. However, it is
with extreme sadness that I step down as head coach of the Western
Michigan Bronco hockey team. WMU is an extremely special place with
special attributes. I am certain that with the commitment the university
is making to hockey, that Bronco hockey will continue on its current
path of becoming an elite program nationally. My goal when I became head
coach was to bring the program to national prominence and I am totally
convinced that will happen very soon, regardless of my leaving.”
“I
want to thank the Board of Trustees and President John M. Dunn for
their commitment to me and the hockey program. I want to thank Kathy
Beauregard for giving me a great opportunity and her great leadership
and passion. Kathy is a great administrator, boss, and person. WMU is
very lucky to have her. Special thanks to associate athletic director
Monty Porter for his guidance and friendship.”
“I would not have
this opportunity without the incredible efforts of our coaching staff,
support staff, and players. I was very lucky to hire two outstanding
coaches,
Pat Ferschweiler and
Rob Facca. Both had an incredible impact
on our success. Finally, a public thank you to our players, whose
extraordinary commitment and effort, allowed us to have success that
most thought was not possible. This great opportunity to coach for the
Detroit Red Wings would not be possible without our players incredible
efforts.”