The University today announced the contract for Gophers hockey coach Don Lucia has been signed through the 2014-15 season.
Here's the University release:
Director of athletics Joel Maturi announced today that the University of Minnesota has agreed to terms on a contract extension with head hockey coach Don Lucia through the 2014-15 season.
"Don is a championship caliber coach and is deserving of this extension," said Maturi. "He has led the University of Minnesota to two national titles and recently battled through a significant illness. He is now totally healthy and fully committed to Minnesota. I believe Gopher Hockey to be the premier program in the country and Don is the right man to continue to lead our student athletes."
Lucia won back-to-back national championships with Minnesota in 2002 and 2003. He is in his thirteenth season behind the Gopher bench and has a stellar 294-159-53 record at Minnesota. The Gophers are off to a 4-0-0 start this season, which is Minnesota's best start since their 2001-02 campaign.
"I want to thank president Eric Kaler and director of athletics Joel Maturi for having confidence in me to lead the Gophers for many years to come," said Lucia. "Our goal every year is for Minnesota to be a championship team, and we have been able to achieve the ultimate success twice since I have been here. Some years we come closer to reaching our goals than others, but I am confident that we are headed in the right direction."
