Rob Rassey - Ice Hockey Coach - University of Michigan Athletics

Rob Rassey

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
rassey@umich.edu

Rob Rassey has been with the University of Michigan ice hockey program for two seasons, joining in 2022. He was elevated to associate head coach after his first season, in July 2023.

During the 2023-24 season, the team made its 28th appearance in the Frozen Four after being largely counted out of the NCAA Tournament in February. The Wolverines made a run to the Big Ten Tournament Championship, before falling to Michigan State in the title game. The team, ranked No. 10 in the nation, exacted revenge two weeks later with a 5-2 win over then ranked No. 5 MSU in the NCAA Regional final, a day after taking down No. 4 North Dakota 4-3. Michigan's season came to an end in the national semifinal to the No. 1 overall seed Boston College. The squad had the top-ranked power-play unit in the nation at 33.6 percent (50-for-149) and was third in the nation in scoring offense (4.12 goals per game). Six players averaged more than a point-per-game - something Michigan has not accomplished in more than 25 years. The B1G Player of the Year and Scoring Champion Gavin Brindley was named first-team All-American, along with Seamus Casey, while Rutger McGroarty was a second-team selection.

In his first season, Rassey helped to guide the Wolverines to the 2023 Big Ten Tournament Championship and an appearance in the Frozen Four. With a record 17 sold-out crowds at Yost Ice Arena, they witnessed one of the top scoring offense in the nation, as the Wolverines average 4.17 goals per game. Ranked in the top 10 in the national polls all season, Michigan was the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, and upset top-seeded Minnesota on its home ice to capture the Big Ten tournament crown. Finishing the regular season at No. 3 in the pairwise rankings, Michigan was tabbed a No. 1 seed in the the program's record 40th NCAA appearance. The Wolverines made history scoring the most goals in an NCAA Regional game with 11 in an 11-1 victory over Colgate and defeated Penn State in its own Regional, 2-1 in overtime to make back-to-back appearances in the Frozen Four. Falling to eventual national champion Quinnipiac, was quickly highlighted by Adam Fantilli capturing the Hobey Baker Award, becoming Michigan's third recipient. Both Fantilli and Luke Hughes were named first-team All-Americans.

Rassey has 12 years of coaching experience, most recently serving as the head coach of the Sioux Fall Stampede (USHL). He took over as head coach and general manager of the Omaha Lancers (USHL) mid-season in 2021-22, as the team earned its first playoff appearance since 2010. Prior to his time with the Lancers, Rassey served as an amateur scout for the Detroit Red Wings from 2019-2021.

From 2013-2019 he acted as an assistant coach at Harvard University. In his six seasons with the Crimson, he helped to guide the team to four NCAA tournament appearances including a spot in the 2017 Frozen Four and two ECAC Championship titles in 2015 and 2017. He coached Hobey Baker winner Jimmy Vesey, along with NHL players Adam Fox, Alex Kerfoot, John Marino, Ryan Donato and Colin Blackwell. The Crimson ranked in the top 15 in five of his six seasons, topping out at No. 3 during the 2016-17 season.

A four-year letterwinner at Northeastern (2006-2009), Rassey played in 134 career games with the Huskies. He was a four-year Hockey East all-Academic team member and twice captured the Athletic Department’s Academic Excellence Award. Graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Business Administration, Rassey went on to earn his master’s from Harvard in 2019.

Other coaching experience includes volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater for two seasons, and assistant coach with the Youngstown Phantoms for two seasons.