Jeff Blashill was announced as the head ice hockey coach on April 6, 2010, becoming the fifth head coach in the 37-year history of the program.

Blashill comes to Western Michigan after serving as the head coach and general manager of the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League, the top juniors league in the United States. Under his tutelage, the Ice won the “Clark Cup” in his first season as head coach and made it to the USHL semi-finals his second season. In his championship season, Blashill led the Ice to a 39-19-2 record, tying a program mark for wins. In two seasons with Blashill at the helm the Ice were 76-48-5. Several of Blashill’s players at Indiana signed letters of intent to play college hockey or are currently playing at the college level.

Before his stop in Indianapolis, Blashill helped construct the Miami RedHawks hockey program into a national power, assisting head coach Enrico Blassi for six seasons. During his time as an assistant, the RedHawks went to the NCAA Tournament four times, including the Elite Eight during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. Blashill recruits excelled at Miami with three of them being named Hobey Baker Finalists, four making the CCHA All-Rookie Team, 11 named first or second team All-CCHA, two of them competing in the World Junior Championships and six of them being honored as All-Americans. Under Blashill the RedHawks penalty-kill unit ranked in the top 10 in the nation from 2004 to 2008, including tops in the nation during 2008. Blashill also had a role in recruiting and developing many players on the Miami 2008-09 NCAA Finalist team and the 2005-06 CCHA Championship team.

Blashill also spent four years as an assistant coach at Ferris State, his alma matter. At FSU he played a major role in recruiting and developing the 2002-03 CCHA Championship team.

A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Blashill played goalie for Ferris State University from 1994-98. As a student athlete he was selected as FSU’s Rookie of the Year for the 1994-95 season. He was named to the CCHA All-Academic Team during the 1996-97 season. Blashill earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Ferris State in 1998 and was honored three-straight years with the FSU President’s Award for having the team’s highest GPA.

Blashill and his wife, Erica, have three kids, Teddy, Josie and newborn Owen.

The Blashill File

• Head coach and general manager of the USHL's Indiana Ice.
• 72-43-5 record in two season.
• Won the "Clark Cup" as league champion on his first season as head coach
• Six seasons as assistant coach with the Miami University RedHawks.
• Won a CCHA Championship with Miami during the 2005-06 team
• Recruited three Hobey Baker Finalists, four CCHA All-Rookie Team members, 11 first or second team All-CCHA members, six All-Americans, two World Junior Championship participants.
• Was part of four NCAA Tournament teams while at Miami, including the 2006-07 and 2007-08 Elite Eight teams.
• Played a major role in recruiting and developing the Miami 2009 NCAA Finalist team.
• Four seasons as assistant coach at Ferris State.
• Played a major role in recruiting and developing the 2002-03 Ferris State CCHA Championship team.
• Assistant coach of the World Junior A Challenge Team; Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada (2009)
• Assistant coach of the World Junior Team; IIHF World Junior Tournament, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (2009)
• Assistant coach U-18 team; Ivan Hlinka Memorial World Championships, Czech Republic (2006)
• Head coach Team Michigan; U-17 & U-18 National Festival (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005)