Michigan Names Muckalt Associate Head Coach
6/20/2017 10:02:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan ice hockey coach Mel Pearson announced today (Tuesday, June 20) the hiring of Bill Muckalt to his coaching staff as associate head coach.
A four-year letterwinner (1995-98) and two-time national champion at U-M, Muckalt returns to his alma mater after spending the past two seasons as head coach of the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League. Prior to his stint with the Storm, Muckalt served as an assistant coach at Michigan Tech for four years under Pearson after a successful career in the NHL.
"Billy has had great success everywhere he has coached," Pearson said. "Having won two national championships, he is familiar with the winning tradition of Michigan hockey. Billy will be a great addition to our staff, and I'm extremely excited to be bringing him back to Ann Arbor. Our players will really benefit from his experience and knowledge of the game"
"I am humbled and privileged to be back at Michigan -- it's a special place," said Muckalt. "I'm excited to work with Mel again and looking forward to working with Brian (Wiseman), Steve (Shields) and the rest of the staff. I can't wait to start getting to know our student-athletes and helping them develop and help them reach their dreams and goals. I look forward to embracing the tradition and enriching the future of Michigan Hockey."
The Muckalt File
» In his two seasons with Tri-City, Muckalt's team recorded 49-46-16-9 record and captured its first Clark Cup in franchise history during the 2015-16 season.
» During the 2015-16 championship season, Muckalt's team went on a franchise-record 13-game point streak and ended the playoffs with the most goals scored and fewest goals allowed in the USHL.
» Muckalt became the fifth coach in Tier-1 history of the USHL to win a championship in the first season as head coach, joining current Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill.
» In 2014-15 alongside Pearson, Muckalt helped guide Michigan Tech to a 29-10-2 record, which was tied for the most wins in college hockey, and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies earned their first No. 1 national ranking since 1976 while boasting the largest goal differential in NCAA DI, with a 1.80 goals against average and 3.51 goals per game.
» Previously held head coaching positions at the junior level with the Valencia Flyers of the Western States Hockey League (2009-10) and New Mexico Mustangs of the North American Hockey League (2010-11).
» Began his coaching career at Eastern Michigan with its American Collegiate Hockey Association DI team in 2006-07 before moving up to head coach the following season.
» Had a five-year NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild. Muckalt tallied 97 career points (40 goals, 57 assists), with his most productive season coming as a rookie with Vancouver when he posted 16 goals and 20 assists in 73 games.
» Over his four-year career at U-M, helped the Wolverines to 133 wins and two national championships while posting 105 career goals and 226 total points. Ranks seventh in program history with 226 points, sixth in goals (105), and ninth in assists (121). Earned All-America first team honors and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist during senior season in 1997-98.
» A Surrey, British Columbia, native, Muckalt graduated from Michigan in 1998 with a degree in sports management and communications.
