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Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Speed Kills said:
How are they similar? How are they different? How do their achievements compare to one another? Who was the better coach? I think the best way to get fair and unbiased opinions is to exclude North Dakota fans as well as Gopher fans from the discussion. I'm looking for completely objective opinions.
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As a stats guy I'll take the bait.

If I've done my math correctly Doug Woog was 41 when he become Minnesota's head coach, his one and only head coaching position. Dave Hakstol was 36 when be became North Dakota's head coach, his first (and only NCAA) head coaching position. Both followed successful coaches, although both programs were years removed from post season success (4 seasons for UND, 6 seasons for UM). As mentioned, both also failed to win the NCAA title during their tenures, but both programs did win the NCAA title after each left (3 seasons later for UM, the following season for UND). The biggest difference is that Coach Woog ended his tenure with 2 losing seasons and moved into broadcasting, while Coach Hakstol ended his tenure with 11 straight winning seasons and moved onto becoming a NHL head coach.

Their coaching records show that Coach Woog was the more successful coach when it comes to wins and loses with a 390-187-40 record, a 0.665 winning percentage. In that time he had 12 winning seasons, 7 30+ win seasons and the most ever wins in a single season for the Gophers. Included in that were 4 regular season titles (1 shared) and 7 second place finishes, along with a fourth, fifth and sixth place finish. Coach Hakstol had a 289-143-43 record, a 0.654 winning percentage with 11 winning seasons, but only 1 30+ win season. Included in that were 3 regular season titles, 2 second place finishes, 2 third place finishes, 3 fourth place finishes (2 shared) and 1 fifth place finish.

When it comes to the post season Coach Hakstol is the more successful coach with 4 league tournament titles, 11 NCAA appearances, and 7 Frozen Fours (with one 2nd and six Semifinal appearances). Coach Woog won 3 league tournament titles, with 12 NCAA appearances and 6 Frozen Fours (with one 2nd, two 3rds, one 4th and two Semifinal appearances).

When it comes to acclaim by their peers Coach Hakstol received two league Coach of the Year awards, with Coach Woog receiving one.

When it comes to players Coach Woog coached 5 first team All-Americans, 8 second team All-Americans, 12 first team WCHA, 16 second team WCHA, 3 Frozen Four All-Tournament team, 4 WCHA Players of the Year, 2 WCHA Rookies of the Year and 2 Hobey Award winners. Coach Hakstol coached 6 first team All-Americans, 5 second team All-Americans, 11 league first team (3 NCHC, 8 WCHA), 12 leauge second team (4 NCHC, 8 WCHA), 1 Frozen Four All-Tournament team, 2 league Players of the Year, 1 league Rookie of the Year and 1 Hobey Award winner.

All in all I'd say Coach Woog was the better coach as far as wins and loses go but that Coach Hakstol had better success in motivating his teams in the post season. Both recruited well, had excellent players and were able to maintain the success of their programs for over a decade. I think overall there is very little to select one over the other, but the two losing seasons at the end of Coach Woog's tenure likely make the difference and I would say Coach Hakstol is the better coach.

Sean
 
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Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

When it comes to playing the game of college hockey, there is no comparison. Doug Woog in his three years (freshmen were not allowed to play) with Minnesota, Woog was selected as a first team All-American, named team captain and named MVP in his senior year. Hakstol was just some slug from Canada, who filled out a roster spot.
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Doug Woog always made me love gopher hockey and gopher fans. No other person could make me feel that way.

It's complicated.
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Woog was an American from Minnesota. Hakstol was an Over aged Canadian.
Happy awards the 2pt take down to Woog. Match over.
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Happy said:
When it comes to playing the game of college hockey, there is no comparison. Doug Woog in his three years (freshmen were not allowed to play) with Minnesota, Woog was selected as a first team All-American, named team captain and named MVP in his senior year. Hakstol was just some slug from Canada, who filled out a roster spot.
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Yeah, but Hakstol won the Cliff (Fido) Purpur Award, so you can just throw all that other stuff out.
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Who was the better coach is incredibly difficult to conclude since they were both highly successful in terms of wins and losses and playoff appearances.

One post here or a carom (sp?) there and Woog or Hakstol could easily have 2 or more titles.

Both of these guys were great and any team in the country would have loved to have had either one as coach.

.02 from badger country
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Woog was the better coach. His Woogisms were far more entertaining than Hakstol's epithets shouted across the rink at on-ice officials.
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Speed Kills said:
For many years North Dakota fans have gone out of their way to say bad things about Doug Woog every time his name comes up in conversation, basing pretty much their entire argument on the fact that he never coached a team to a national championship victory. Funny thing about that, the same can be said of Dave Hakstol.

Now, in my opinion those two coaches both had very successful careers at the college level. While neither one of them won a national championship, their teams were contenders pretty much year in and year out. Every year there are a handful of very good teams but only one of them can win a national championship. There is something to be said for consistently being among the top five to ten in the nation. Just thought I'd throw this out there for discussion...

How are they similar? How are they different? How do their achievements compare to one another? Who was the better coach? I think the best way to get fair and unbiased opinions is to exclude North Dakota fans as well as Gopher fans from the discussion. I'm looking for completely objective opinions.
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I am not so sure that's true. I know many UND fans that like Wooger and respect him. I've met him in passing a few times and he seems like a great guy.
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Sean Pickett said:
As a stats guy I'll take the bait.

If I've done my math correctly Doug Woog was 41 when he become Minnesota's head coach, his one and only head coaching position. Dave Hakstol was 36 when be became North Dakota's head coach, his first (and only NCAA) head coaching position. Both followed successful coaches, although both programs were years removed from post season success (4 seasons for UND, 6 seasons for UM). As mentioned, both also failed to win the NCAA title during their tenures, but both programs did win the NCAA title after each left (3 seasons later for UM, the following season for UND). The biggest difference is that Coach Woog ended his tenure with 2 losing seasons and moved into broadcasting, while Coach Hakstol ended his tenure with 11 straight winning seasons and moved onto becoming a NHL head coach.

Their coaching records show that Coach Woog was the more successful coach when it comes to wins and loses with a 390-187-40 record, a 0.665 winning percentage. In that time he had 12 winning seasons, 7 30+ win seasons and the most ever wins in a single season for the Gophers. Included in that were 4 regular season titles (1 shared) and 7 second place finishes, along with a fourth, fifth and sixth place finish. Coach Hakstol had a 289-143-43 record, a 0.654 winning percentage with 11 winning seasons, but only 1 30+ win season. Included in that were 3 regular season titles, 2 second place finishes, 2 third place finishes, 3 fourth place finishes (2 shared) and 1 fifth place finish.

When it comes to the post season Coach Hakstol is the more successful coach with 4 league tournament titles, 11 NCAA appearances, and 7 Frozen Fours (with one 2nd and six Semifinal appearances). Coach Woog won 3 league tournament titles, with 12 NCAA appearances and 6 Frozen Fours (with one 2nd, two 3rds, one 4th and two Semifinal appearances).

When it comes to acclaim by their peers Coach Hakstol received two league Coach of the Year awards, with Coach Woog receiving one.

When it comes to players Coach Woog coached 5 first team All-Americans, 8 second team All-Americans, 12 first team WCHA, 16 second team WCHA, 3 Frozen Four All-Tournament team, 4 WCHA Players of the Year, 2 WCHA Rookies of the Year and 2 Hobey Award winners. Coach Hakstol coached 6 first team All-Americans, 5 second team All-Americans, 11 league first team (3 NCHC, 8 WCHA), 12 leauge second team (4 NCHC, 8 WCHA), 1 Frozen Four All-Tournament team, 2 league Players of the Year, 1 league Rookie of the Year and 1 Hobey Award winner.

All in all I'd say Coach Woog was the better coach as far as wins and loses go but that Coach Hakstol had better success in motivating his teams in the post season. Both recruited well, had excellent players and were able to maintain the success of their programs for over a decade. I think overall there is very little to select one over the other, but the two losing seasons at the end of Coach Woog's tenure likely make the difference and I would say Coach Hakstol is the better coach.

Sean
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Excellent post, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much!
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

"I'm glad I coached when I did," Woog said. "Most of the players were in it for fun."
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

During Woog's 14 seasons MN was 30-20-6 in the regular season and 6-5 during the WCHA playoffs against UND. They didn't meet in the NCAAs. I don't know Hakstol's record vs MN, someone from UND can figure that out.
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Happy said:
During Woog's 14 seasons MN was 30-20-6 in the regular season and 6-5 during the WCHA playoffs against UND. They didn't meet in the NCAAs. I don't know Hakstol's record vs MN, someone from UND can figure that out.
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Not that it really matters as the question was who was the better coach, not who won vs the other school, but Coach Hakstol was 11-11-4 in the regular season, 4-2 in the WCHA playoffs and 2-2 in the NCAAs against Minnesota.

Sean
 
Re: Doug Woog vs. Dave Hakstol

Speed Kills said:
Excellent post, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much!
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Thank you. As I like stats and research I enjoyed looking the information up. However, it seems having an actual serious discussion appears to be a lost cause. :rolleyes:

Sean
 
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