Head Coach Scott Sandelin
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When Scott Sandelin accepted his first collegiate head coaching job with the University of Minnesota Duluth shortly after the new millennium, he had already earned a reputation as one of the profession's more promising up-and-comers. It didn't take long for him to live up to that billing in his new surroundings.
The 2003-04 Spencer Penrose Award winner as the American Hockey Coaches' Association NCAA Div. 1 Coach of the Year, Sandelin, 43 (he was born on 8/8/64), has helped thrust the Bulldog program back firmly into the national forefront. In his seven winters behind the Bulldog bench, he has compiled an overall record of 109-143-31, including, and has taken UMD to three of the past five WCHA Final Five tournaments. In 2004-05, the Bulldogs were named the preseason league favorite in the Grand Forks Herald WCHA Coaches' Poll for the first time ever and, in mid-October, occupied the No. 1 spot in a national poll (USCHO.com/CSTV and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) for the first time in 15 years. Over the Christmas Holidays that year, Sandelin displayed his coaching wares on the international stage as the head coach of Team USA at the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championships.
One of only two current WCHA coaches to do time in the National Hockey League, Sandelin turned UMD into a NCAA Frozen Four participant for the first time in nearly a generation three years ago while shepherding the Bulldogs to their most victories (they were 28-13-4 in all outings) and highest WCHA finish (second place on a 19-7-2 mark) since the 1992-93 season. UMD also sported the nation's second-highest scoring team, and, during the course of the year, pieced together a school-record 14-game unbeaten streak. For his efforts, he was chosen the WCHA Coach of the Year as well as the national coach of the year by both insidecollegehockey.com and uscho.com.
Sandelin's 2002-03 Bulldogs racked up their best overall mark (22-15-5) in a decade while experiencing the greatest one-year turnaround of any WCHA club. UMD ended that season as one of nation's hottest clubs, going unbeaten in 12 of its final 16 games (11-4-1) and capturing third place at the WCHA Final Five playoff championship. One year earlier, he directed the Bulldogs to a 13-24-1 record in all games -- nearly doubling the number of victories from the previous season (7-28-4). In addition to racking up its most goals in five years, UMD also ranked fifth in the nation in power play scores (47) that season.
Prior to officially becoming the Bulldogs' 12th head coach on March 31, 2000, Sandelin served with the University of North Dakota coaching staff the prior six years, including the last three as an associate head coach. During his tenure in Grand Forks, North Dakota laid claim to two NCAA titles (1996-97 and 1999-2000), three WCHA regular season championships (1996-99), two WCHA playoff crowns (1996-97 and 1999-2000) and earned four straight berths in the NCAA tournament (1996-2000). His primary responsibilities with the Fighting Sioux included handling the team's recruiting coordinator and academic advisor duties, and assisting head coach Dean Blais with all aspects of practice and game preparation.
Sandelin spent the 1993-94 season as the head coach of the Fargo-Moorhead Junior Kings of the Junior Elite Hockey League after working in that same capacity (and doubling as general manager) the previous winter with the American Hockey Association's Fargo-Moorhead Express.
Born and raised in Hibbing, Minn., Sandelin capped off his four-year playing career at North Dakota in 1985-86 by being named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. He captained the Fighting Sioux that season and also was an All-WCHA first team pick and an NCAA I All-American second team selection. Named North Dakota's Most Valuable Player as a senior after amassing a career-high 38 points in 40 games, Sandelin went on to play seven years of professional hockey, including National Hockey League stints with the Montreal Canadiens (1986-88), Philadelphia Flyers (1990-91) and Minnesota North Stars (1991-92). The second round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 1982 NHL draft (40th selection overall), he was credited with four assists in 25 lifetime NHL outings. A nagging back injury forced him to retire prematurely from the professional ranks following the 1991-92 season. Sandelin, one of two current WCHA coaches to do time in the NHL, also skated for Team U.S.A. at the 1989 Goodwill Games, the 1986 World Championships, and the 1984 World Junior Championships.
Sandelin, who graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in marketing, is a past vice president of the American Hockey Coaches Association. He resides in Hermantown, Minn., with his wife, Wendy, and their son, Ryan (8) and daughter, Katie (1).
