The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

[Muskieman]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

Joe Marsh. There isn't a coach in the nation who does more with less every single season, a program in the nation who wouldn't want him on board, or coach in the nation who doesn't respect him more. Within in 3 years of taking over a program that had been debating dropping to D3, lost by a goal in overtime in the national title game.
2 time national coach of the year
.

GoldenBear - you beat me to it and couldn't have said it better. I will add that not once in Joe's 25+ years as Head Coach at SLU has ANYBODY written or said a negative thing about Joe. Fabulous coach and an even better person!

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

I just thought I would update this thread as well. The numbers are in. In all, 75 coaches were nominated (22 active coaches). I have decided to highlight the top 25 coaches of all-time, along with an Honorable Mention (active coaches in the top 50). When all is said and done, I'll post the 75 that were nominated along with their point values. Look for updates over the next week or two as the top 25 are announced.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

Honorable Mention

Mike Eaves
Mike Eaves has lead Wisconsin to 2 Frozen Fours, and the 2006 National Championship. The Badgers have made 5 NCAA Tournaments in his tenure, and have had only 2 losing seasons in his 9 seasons. If Coach Eaves stays at the collegiate level, expect him to crack the top-25 in the not so distant future.

Dave Hakstol
Dave Hakstol has been to more Frozen Fours since becoming a head coach, than any other coach in the nation (5). The Sioux have won 2 MacNaughton cups, along with 3 Broadmoor trophies in his tenure. Similar to Eaves, if Coach Hakstol continues this pace, he will be in the top-25 soon. At this point, it is a national title that is keeping him out of the upper echelon of coaching.

Scott Sandelin
No coach did more for themselves this past season than Scott Sandelin. If it were not for the Bulldogs run to the National Championship, he would have not been listed here. Sandelin has made the most out of his opportunities though, reaching 3 NCAA Tournaments and going 7-2 in those games. If he can continue to lead the Bulldogs to the dance, expect Coach Sandelin to rise in these rankings.

Tim Whitehead
Maine's coach, Tim Whitehead has struggled over the past few years, but his initial success following Walsh, along with what he accomplished in his first half dozen seasons at Maine put Whitehead here. Whitehead has an impressive 10-6 record in the NCAA Tournament, but missing the NCAAs four years in a row has put him in the hotseat amongst Maine fans.

Enrico Blasi
Enrico Blasi has moved into this echelon of coaching over the past handful of seasons, leading Miami to the status as a consistent contender. The RedHawks, under Blasi, have made 6 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, and were Runners-up in '09. Expect Blasi to continue to move up the list and Miami to continue their success.

Joe Marsh
Joe Marsh has been at the helm of the SLU program for 25 years, and has accomplished a lot. He has made 2 Frozen Fours, reaching the title game in '88, along with 8 NCAA Tournament appearances. Unfortunately, he is only 3-11 in the NCAA Tournament. That being said, Marsh often does more with less than any other coach in the game. His 468 victories are good enough to rank 22nd All-time.

Mike Schafer
Mike Schafer has been remarkably consistent in his 15 years at Cornell. The Big Red Boss has only had 2 losing seasons, and has reached the NCAA Tournament 8 times, reaching 1 Frozen Four. If Schafer can continue to make the NCAA Tournament, and perhaps reach a few more Frozen Fours or win a title, he will continue to climb the rankings.

Scotty Owens
Scotty Owens may catch a lot of grief for his hair, but he is an excellent coach. He may be the WCHA's version of Joe Marsh, in that he does more with less, and always seems to have CC in the mix. In 12 years in the Springs, Owens has never had a losing season, has put the Tigers into the NCAAs 7 times, and reached 1 Frozen Four.

[FreshFish]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

I have decided to highlight the top 25 coaches of all-time.

The top 25 exclusively men's ice hockey coaches; the coach who also took lacrosse teams to the national championships while at the same time taking ice hockey teams to national championships as well gets no additional recognition for his versatility.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

The top 25 exclusively men's ice hockey coaches; the coach who also took lacrosse teams to the national championships while at the same time taking ice hockey teams to national championships as well gets no additional recognition for his versatility.

Correct. Vince Lombardi will not be appearing on this list. Steve Lombardi perhaps someday...Dean Lombardi, probably not.

[FreshFish]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

Correct.

I was talking about a coach who probably will be in the top ten as a men's college ice hockey coach, who also happened to coach men's college lacrosse as well.

Not sure how a pro football coach got tossed into that?

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

I was talking about a coach who probably will be in the top ten as a men's college ice hockey coach, who also happened to coach men's college lacrosse as well.

Not sure how a pro football coach got tossed into that?

Because I'm not looking at anything besides Men's D1 College Hockey. Anything else is pointless. Most coaches do a lot more than just coach hockey. Ned Harkness chose to coach lacrosse for a time. Murray Armstrong was a great golfer. There certainly won't be any extra consideration for Armstrong because his handicap was so low.

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

The top 25 exclusively men's ice hockey coaches; the coach who also took lacrosse teams to the national championships while at the same time taking ice hockey teams to national championships as well gets no additional recognition for his versatility.

Who cares about freakin lacrosse?

[Federal League]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

who cares about freakin lacrosse?

espnu

[zoofer]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

I've never added up the numbers, but who has put more coaches, scouts and hockey personnel into college and the pro hockey business then Charlie Holt.....Charlie brought the European 5 man unit into college hockey in 75.....and had guys like Bill Beaney, Gordie Clark, and Joe Marsh as players.....was also always a surrogate father to the guys on the team...taught us all more about life than just hockey!

[FreshFish]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

I've never added up the numbers, but who has put more coaches, scouts and hockey personnel into college and the pro hockey business then Charlie Holt.....Charlie brought the European 5 man unit into college hockey in 75.....and had guys like Bill Beaney, Gordie Clark, and Joe Marsh as players.....was also always a surrogate father to the guys on the team...taught us all more about life than just hockey!

While that all may very well be true, in this case I think the thread title is a bit of a misnomer, as I understand the formula it is the winningest Division I men's ice hockey coaches of all time. "greatest" is too broad and amorphous a term to fit what is actually being measured, which appears to be limited to the coaches' W/L record and tournament appearances and advancement.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

While that all may very well be true, in this case I think the thread title is a bit of a misnomer, as I understand the formula it is the winningest Division I men's ice hockey coaches of all time. "greatest" is too broad and amorphous a term to fit what is actually being measured, which appears to be limited to the coaches' W/L record and tournament appearances and advancement.

You are more than welcome to start your own "Greatest Coaches that coached both College Hockey and Lacrosse" thread if you wish, as no one is holding you back. This thread, which is in the Division 1 Men's Ice Hockey forum, I feel is appropriately titled.

The formula that I have accounts for a variety of accomplishments from W/L both regular and post season, conference success, and success of those that you coached, to being recognized as great by your peers and other knowledgable people in the game. Again, if you want to create your own formula that includes college lacrosse success, you are more than welcome to do that.

[LynahFan]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

With all this negativity, just wanted to break into the conversation to say:

Thanks, FS23, for putting this together and crunching the numbers. Your lists are extremely fun and entertaining, and I like how you put a positive spin on every entry. Kudos!

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

While that all may very well be true, in this case I think the thread title is a bit of a misnomer, as I understand the formula it is the winningest Division I men's ice hockey coaches of all time. "greatest" is too broad and amorphous a term to fit what is actually being measured, which appears to be limited to the coaches' W/L record and tournament appearances and advancement.

Jesus H Christ. You just don't quit. We know you don't like the way he does it. You're on a college hockey board. Lacrosse is not relevant to us or this thread.

Go away. Do your own. Shut up. In no particular order.

FS23 - good stuff.

[FreshFish]

Re: The Greatest Coaches of All-Time

Go away. Do your own. Shut up. In no particular order.

Since you put it so eloquently, sure, no problem.


PS I don't care about lacrosse at all. Other people have asked what comprised 'greatness' in a coach, as in 'coach --- really changed my life for the better.'

so what? that doesn't matter.