BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – By advancing their teams to successful postseason play, four Western Collegiate Hockey Association head coaches have been named finalists for the 2022-23 Division I Coach of the Year award, presented by CCM and the American Hockey Coaches Association.

Minnesota’s Brad Frost, St. Cloud State’s Brian Idalski, Wisconsin’s Mark Johnson, and Ohio State’s Nadine Muzerall are four of eight finalists for the national recognition.

The eight coaches must either be voted as Coach of the Year in their respective conference or advance to the NCAA semifinals. Four of the finalists are former Coach of the Year honorees, including Mark Bolding of Yale (2022), Dave Flint of Northeastern (2021), Brad Frost of Minnesota (2013 and 2014), and Mark Johnson of Wisconsin (2006, 2007, 2009, and 2011). Mark Bolding was also named Division III Coach of the Year four times while at Norwich University (2010, 2011, 2012, 2018).

Of the 25 past winners, 11 have come from the WCHA. The 2022-23 winner is set to be announced this Thursday, March 16 ahead of the 2023 Frozen Four taking place in Duluth, Minn. Minnesota Duluth’s Maura Crowell was the league’s most recent honoree in 2017.

Nadine Muzerall was voted as 2022-23 WCHA Co-Coach of the Year by the head and assistant coaches in the league after her success in the regular season. After setting several school records this season, Muzerall led Ohio State to its first WCHA Regular Season title in program history behind a league record of 23-4-1. In addition to her team’s success, her players have stood out individually as defender Sophie Jaques was named a Patty Kazmaier Award Top-3 Finalist and Jenn Gardiner as a Top-10 Finalist.

In his first season as St. Cloud State head coach, Brian Idalski led the Huskies to their highest national rankings since 2008-09, gaining recognition as 2022-23 WCHA Co-Coach of the Year. This season, the Huskies had several standout performances as they earned a win over No. 1 Minnesota (Nov. 7) and shutout then-No. 8 Wisconsin in front of 14,430 fans at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Individually, Idalski’s defense was strong as junior JoJo Chobak set the school record of five shutouts in a season and with 104, sophomore Dayle Ross set the single-season record of blocked shots.

A two-time national Coach of the Year honoree, Minnesota’s Brad Frost has been named a finalist after bringing the Gophers back to its first Frozen Four since 2019. This season, the Gophers earned their eighth WCHA Final Faceoff title in program history, while individually, Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle were named Top-10 Finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.

Rounding out the WCHA finalists is Wisconsin’s Mark Johnson after leading the Badgers to its 14th Frozen Four appearance in program history. A four-time national Coach of the Year, Johnson led the Badgers to high national rankings all season, and most recently earned strong wins in the NCAA Regionals over LIU by 9-1 and over No. 3 Colgate 4-2. His freshman class has stood out, as Caroline Harvey was named WCHA Rookie of the Year and is a finalist for National Rookie of the Year.

2022-23 CCM/AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey Division I Coach of the Year Finalists
(* past winners of the Division I Coach of the Year Award; # past winner at Division III level)
Mark Bolding, Yale # - ECAC Coach of the Year *
Dave Flint, Northeastern – Hockey East Coach of the Year and NCAA Semifinalist *
Brad Frost, Minnesota – NCAA Semifinalist *
Brian Idalski, St. Cloud State – WCHA Co-Coach of the Year
Mark Johnson, Wisconsin – NCAA Semifinalist *
Jeff Kamersal, Penn State – CHA Coach of the Year
Nadine Muzerall, Ohio State – WCHA Co-Coach of the Year and NCAA Semifinalist
Tara Watchorn, Stonehill – NEWHA Coach of the Year

Past WCHA Winners of the Women’s Ice Hockey Division I Coach of the Year Award
1998    Laura Halldorson, Minnesota
2002    Laura Halldorson, Minnesota
2003    Shannon Miller, Minnesota Duluth
2004    Laura Halldorson, Minnesota
2006    Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2007    Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2009    Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2011    Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2013    Brad Frost, Minnesota
2014    Brad Frost, Minnesota
2017    Maura Crowell, Minnesota Duluth
 
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on Twitter and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at the new wcha.com.