CHN Staff Report
Minnesota will have a new coach next season, the school announced today, confirming an earlier CHN report.
According to a statement, the school and Bob Motzko “have mutually agreed to part ways.”
“I want to thank Bob for leading our team for the last eight seasons. In addition to winning Big Ten titles, the team advanced to the Men’s Frozen Four twice and played in the national championship game in 2023,” Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle said. “He is a great coach and we wish him well in the future. … We will immediately begin a nationwide search for our next head coach.”
Motzko just completed his eighth season as head coach. After five straight NCAA Tournament appearances that included two Frozen Fours, and a spot in the 2023 national championship game, the Gophers slipped to 11-22-3 this season. That was the lowest win total for Minnesota since 1971-72, the year before Herb Brooks took over.
Motzko was an assistant coach on Minnesota’s last two national championship teams, in 2002 and 2003. He then got his first head coaching job at his alma mater, St. Cloud State, in 2005, where he stayed for 13 years. Motzko made eight NCAA Tournament appearances with the Huskies, including a Frozen Four in 2013.
Motzko also won a gold medal leading Team USA at the World Junior Championship in 2017.
All together, Motzko’s career record is 448-296-73.
“This was my 42nd year in coaching, and at this stage in my career, now is the right time for new leadership,” Motzko said. “I have dedicated 14 years to this program as a head coach, assistant coach and student. I am grateful for every minute of it. In addition to working with so many incredible student-athletes, it was great to see the arena full again and the passion restored to our program. One of the most enjoyable and rewarding parts of my eight years was reconnecting with and uniting our alumni and having them involved with our program. It was a tremendous honor to be part of this incredible University.”
Coyle just fired Gophers women’s coach Brad Frost a day earlier.
This story will be updated with new details as they come in.