Ice Hockey
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
Chris Lazary was named Associate Head Coach of the University of Michigan ice hockey team in August 2026.
Lazary joins the Wolverines following a 10-year tenure with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League, including serving as head coach since November 2018. He led the Spirit to three West Division championships (2018-19, 2019-20, 2023-24), highlighted by the franchise's first Memorial Cup championship in 2024. Lazary was elevated to head coach in November 2018 after spending more than two seasons as the Spirit's associate coach.
Known for his emphasis on player development and attention to detail, Lazary helped establish Saginaw as one of the OHL's premier programs. Under his leadership, the Spirit reached several franchise milestones, including its first West Division title and first appearance in the Western Conference Final, before reaching the pinnacle with the organization's first Memorial Cup championship in 2024.
Prior to joining the Spirit, Lazary spent two seasons (2015-17) as an assistant coach with the OHL's Sarnia Sting after serving as head coach of the Waterloo Siskins of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2013-14 season, where he led the club to a Midwestern Conference championship. He also served as an assistant coach at York University (2012-13) following two seasons with the St. Michael's Buzzers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (2010-12), where he began his coaching career.
