Berenson Honored as Division I Coach of the Year
4/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Head coach Red Berenson of the University of Michigan ice hockey team was named the recipient of the 2008 Spencer Penrose Award, the American Hockey Coaches Association announced Tuesday (April 15). The Penrose Award is given annually to the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey Coach of the Year. This marks the first time that Berenson has received the accolade.
In his 24th season at U-M, Berenson directed the Wolverines to a 33-6-4 record in 2007-08. U-M advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the 10th time in Berenson's tenure. Michigan captured its 10th CCHA regular season title and its eighth CCHA tournament championship during Berenson's tenure. As a result, he earned the CCHA Coach of the Year laurel for just the second time of his career (1994).
Michigan's success in 2007-08 was unanticipated as the national polls ranked U-M 10th in the preseason and the CCHA coaches and media picked the Maize and Blue to finish fourth in the league. Despite skating just two seniors and as many as 10 freshmen throughout the season, the Wolverines went on to lead the NCAA in winning percentage (.814) with their 33-6-4 mark -- the 33 wins were tied with Miami for the most nationally. Also, Michigan's senior captain, Kevin Porter, garnered the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's top student-athlete.
With a career record of 644-298-68 (.671), Berenson ranks eighth all-time in NCAA wins. Under his watch, Michigan has enjoyed 11 seasons with 30 or more wins, an NCAA record 18 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and 10 NCAA Frozen Four berths. The only other U-M coach to win the Penrose Award was Vic Heyliger in 1954.
Candidates for the Penrose Award had to have been either Coach of the Year in their conference or have taken their team to the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four; Berenson qualified for the award under both criteria.
The runners-up for the honor were Guy Gadowsky (Princeton) and Jerry York (Boston College). The other finalists were Dave Hakstol (North Dakota), Jeff Jackson (Notre Dame), Troy Jutting (Minnesota State), Brian Riley (Army), Tom Serratore (Bemidji State) and Kevin Sneddon (Vermont).
The Spencer Penrose Award is named in honor of the former Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, site of the first 10 NCAA Hockey Championships. It will be presented at the AHCA Coach of the Year Banquet on Saturday, April 26, in Naples, Fla.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
