Finalists Announced for Spencer Penrose Award
Given to CCM/AHCA Men’s Hockey Division I Coach of the Year
Ten coaches who have enjoyed on-ice success during the 2025-26 season have been named finalists for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the CCM/AHCA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. Selected by the nation's 63 NCAA Division I head coaches, the winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 7.
The nominees represent any coach who won Coach of the Year honors in his conference this past season, as well as coaches whose teams have advanced to the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four. One coach has done both this season: Dane Jackson of the University of North Dakota. Jackson is in his first year as a head coach.
Only one of this year's finalists is a past recipient of this award: Mike Hastings of the University of Wisconsin. Hastings, having earned Coach of the Year honors at Minnesota State University in 2015, 2021 and 2022, is one of only three coaches who have won this award three times. The others are Charlie Holt of the University of New Hampshire (1969, 1974 and 1979), and Jack Parker of Boston University (1975, 1978 and 2009). In the 75 years that the award has been presented, Hastings is the only coach to win the award in consecutive years.
The Spencer Penrose Award is named in memory of the Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, site of the first 10 NCAA championship hockey tournaments. The award will be presented on Wednesday, April 29, at the 2026 AHCA Convention at the Hyatt Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, FL.
The CCM AHCA COACH of the YEAR AWARDS are sponsored by CCM HOCKEY and chosen by members of the AMERICAN
HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION. CCM is the legendary hockey brand dedicated to the endless pursuit of performance by
delivering game-changing, head-to-toe innovative hockey equipment to players worldwide.
2025-26 AHCA Men’s Ice Hockey
Spencer Penrose Award Finalists
(CCM/AHCA Division I Coach of the Year)
David Carle, University of Denver, NCAA Semifinalist
Reid Cashman, Dartmouth College, ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year
Mike Hastings, University of Wisconsin, NCAA Semifinalist
Dane Jackson, University of North Dakota, NCHC Coach of the Year and NCAA Semifinalist
Andy Jones, Bentley University, AHA Coach of the Year
Erik Largen, University of Alaska, NCAA Independent Coach of the Year
Nate Leaman, Providence College, Hockey East Coach of the Year
Brandon Naurato, University of Michigan, NCAA Semifinalist
Adam Nightingale, Michigan State University, Big Ten Coach of the Year
Luke Strand, Minnesota State University, CCHA Coach of the Year
| Past Winners of the Spencer Penrose Award CCM/AHCA Division I Coach of the Year |
|
| 1951 | Edward Jeremiah, Dartmouth |
| 1952 | Cheddy Thompson, Colorado College |
| 1953 | John Mariucci, Minnesota |
| 1954 | Vic Heyliger, Michigan |
| 1955 | Ralph "Cooney" Weiland, Harvard |
| 1956 | William Harrison, Clarkson |
| 1957 | Jack Riley, Army |
| 1958 | Harry Cleverly, Boston University |
| 1959 | John "Snooks" Kelley, Boston College |
| 1960 | Jack Riley, Army |
| 1961 | Murray Armstrong, Denver |
| 1962 | Jack Kelley, Colby |
| 1963 | Tony Frasca, Colorado College |
| 1964 | Tom Eccleston, Jr., Providence |
| 1965 | Jim Fullerton, Brown |
| 1966 | Amo Bessone, Michigan State Len Ceglarski, Clarkson |
| 1967 | Edward Jeremiah, Dartmouth |
| 1968 | Ned Harkness, Cornell |
| 1969 | Charlie Holt, New Hampshire |
| 1970 | John Maclnnes, Michigan Tech |
| 1971 | Ralph "Cooney" Weiland, Harvard |
| 1972 | John "Snooks" Kelley, Boston College |
| 1973 | Len Ceglarski, Boston College |
| 1974 | Charlie Holt, New Hampshire |
| 1975 | Jack Parker, Boston University |
| 1976 | John Maclnnes, Michigan Tech |
| 1977 | Jerry York, Clarkson |
| 1978 | Jack Parker, Boston University |
| 1979 | Charlie Holt, New Hampshire |
| 1980 | Rick Comley, Northern Michigan |
| 1981 | Bill O'Flaherty, Clarkson |
| 1982 | Ferny Flaman, Northeastern |
| 1983 | Bill Cleary, Harvard |
| 1984 | Mike Sertich, Minnesota-Duluth |
| 1985 | Len Ceglarski, Boston College |
| 1986 | Ralph Backstrom, Denver |
| 1987 | John "Gino" Gasparini, North Dakota |
| 1988 | Frank Anzalone, Lake Superior |
| 1989 | Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence |
| 1990 | Terry Slater, Colgate |
| 1991 | Rick Comley, Northern Michigan |
| 1992 | Ron Mason, Michigan State |
| 1993 | George Gwozdecky, Miami |
| 1994 | Don Lucia, Colorado College |
| 1995 | Shawn Walsh, Maine |
| 1996 | Bruce Crowder, UMass Lowell |
| 1997 | Dean Blais, North Dakota |
| 1998 | Tim Taylor, Yale |
| 1999 | Richard Umile, New Hampshire |
| 2000 | Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence |
| 2001 | Dean Blais, North Dakota |
| 2002 | Tim Whitehead, Maine |
| 2003 | Bob Daniels, Ferris State |
| 2004 | Scott Sandelin, Minnesota-Duluth |
| 2005 | George Gwozdecky, Denver |
| 2006 | Enrico Blasi, Miami |
| 2007 | Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame |
| 2008 | Red Berenson, Michigan |
| 2009 | Jack Parker, Boston University |
| 2010 | Wayne Wilson, RIT |
| 2011 | Nate Leaman, Union |
| 2012 | Bob Daniels, Ferris State |
| 2013 | Norm Bazin, UMass Lowell |
| 2014 | Rick Bennett, Union |
| 2015 | Mike Hastings, Minnesota State |
| 2016 | Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac |
| 2017 | Jim Montgomery, Denver |
| 2018 | Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame |
| 2019 | Greg Carvel, Massachusetts |
| 2020 | Brad Berry, North Dakota Mike Schafer, Cornell |
| 2021 | Mike Hastings, Minnesota State |
| 2022 | Mike Hastings, Minnesota State |
| 2023 | Bob Motzko, Minnesota |
| 2024 | Greg Brown, Boston College |
| 2025 | Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan |
