After advancing their teams to successful postseason play, two Western Collegiate Hockey Association head coaches have been named finalists for the CCM/American Hockey Coaches Association 2025-26 Division I Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year Award. Ohio State's Nadine Muzerall and Wisconsin’s Mark Johnson are two of the seven finalists for the national recognition.
Of the 28 past winners, 12 have come from the WCHA. The 2025-26 winner will be announced this Thursday, March 19. Three of the finalists are former Coach of the Year honorees, including Wisconsin's Johnson, who won the honor in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2025. To be a finalist for this award, one must either be voted Coach of the Year in their own conference or advance to the NCAA semifinals.
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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.
Nadine Muzerall coached Ohio State to its third WCHA Final Faceoff title in program history after a 2-1 defeat of the top-seeded Badgers at the 2026 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff. Most recently, Muzerall's Buckeyes defeated Yale 6-1 to advance to their sixth-straight NCAA Frozen Four and seventh in program history. On Feb. 7th in the Buckeyes 4-1 victory against Wisconsin, Muzerall earned her 250th career win with the Buckeyes and became the 14th active head coach to reach 250 career wins.
Johnson was voted the 2025-26 WCHA Coach of the Year by the league's head and assistant coaches. Johnson guided the Badgers to their 11th WCHA Regular Season title after recording a 24-3-2 record in league play. Wisconsin is set to make its 17th NCAA Frozen Four appearance in program history after the Baders defeated Quinnipiac in the NCAA Regional Final last Saturday. The win in the NCAA Regional Final marked the 700th career win for Johnson as he became the first coach in NCAA women’s hockey history to reach 700 wins.
2025-26 CCM/AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey Division I Coach of the Year Finalists
Mark Bolding, Yale, ECAC Coach of the Year*
Dave Flint, Northeastern, NCAA Semifinalist*
Mark Johnson, Wisconsin, WCHA Coach of the Year, NCAA Semifinalist*
Jeff Kampersal, Penn State, AHA Coach of the Year, NCAA Semifinalist
Katie Lachapelle, Holy Cross, Hockey East Coach of the Year
Nadine Muzerall, Ohio State, NCAA Semifinalist
David Stockdale, Franklin Pierce University, NEWHA Coach of the Year
*Previous Coach of the Year Recipient
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
2025 Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com.