One of the legendary coaches in college hockey isn’t ready to hang up the whistle. University of Michigan coach Red Barenson agreed Tuesday to an contract extension that will keep him at the helm until the end of the 2016 season.
Barenson, 72, has been the head coach for the Wolverines since 1984 and has qualified for the NCAA hockey tournament every year for the past 22 seasons. The 22-year streak is an NCAA record. During the streak he has led the Wolverines to two national championships (1996 and 1998) and has reached the Frozen Four 11 times.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to remain at Michigan, especially with the current Yost Ice Arena renovations, the move to the Big Ten and for our incoming recruits. We have a great staff here, and I’m looking forward to the next few years at Michigan,” Barenson said.
The two-time Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Coach of the Year and 2008 National Coach of the Year has a 752-352-77 record in 28 years in Ann Arbor. His milestone win No. 750 came during the CCHA tournament this season against Notre Dame. His 752 wins currently ranks fifth on the NCAA hockey all-time wins list. He also has 11 CCHA regular-season titles and nine CCHA tournament crowns under his belt.
University of Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon said of Barenson, “Red is an icon in the sport and the one of the most recognizable names in college hockey. We are glad that he agreed to continue leading our hockey program for the foreseeable future. Red’s dedication to Michigan and our program is a major reason for our success. I’m excited that he will continue molding the lives of the young men who skate for Michigan.”
Barenson is a true Michigan man, as he played three seasons (1960-62) at Michigan, where he was a two-time All-American (1961, 1962) and served one year as team captain (1962). He holds a bachelor’s degree (1962) and a master’s degree in business administration (1966) from U-M.
After his collegiate hockey career, he spent 17 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1962 to 1978, appearing in 987 games with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings. Prior to coaching in Ann Arbor, he spent a brief career as an NHL head coach, where he won the Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year) with the Blues in 1981.
Michigan will open the 2012-13 season Thursday, Oct. 11 at home against Rochester Institute of Technology. The Wolverines will begin their CCHA schedule Friday Oct. 16 when they host Miami University. Games of note include a Nov. 24 rematch against Cornell, the team that knocked them out of the 2012 NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden, and Dec. 27-28 they will compete in the Great Lakes Invitational with Michigan Tech, Michigan State and Western Michigan outdoors at Comerica Park.
