In just his second season with the program, Gophers men’s hockey head coach Bob Motzko has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year. 

Motzko received the recognition on Monday as part of the Big Ten’s year-end awards. Before the season was cut short amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Gophers were 9-8-7-4, in a three-way tie for second in the conference and well on their way to an exciting postseason. Motzko had led the team to the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament for the second time in as many years. 

During the regular season, Motzko reached his 300th career win, adding to a career record that now stands at 310-222-60. Motzko is the third coach in Minnesota history to reach 300 career wins. 

And Motzko wasn’t the only member of the maroon and gold to earn Big Ten accolades this season: three freshmen, goaltender Jared Moe, forward Ben Meyers and defenseman Jackson LaCombe were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. 

Additionally, both Minnesota captains picked up awards. Sophomore Sammy Walker earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention alongside junior Brannon McManus. Senior captain Tyler Nanne was awarded the team’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.