Future Gopher Coach Discussion

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Crosby said:
As we close in on the end of the season, I'll weigh in here too. I have not been an outspoken defender of Bob's, but I have not called for his head either. But I agree with Bonin, it feels like the late stage Lucia years. I do think it will soon be time for a change. And I think Barr would be the most obvious choice. A couple things I'd love to see from the new coach:

1) Continued focus on the MN player for recruiting for the bulk of the roster but a willingness to bring in high-end talent from anywhere (see Cooley). Bob has done this pretty well.
2) Willingness to pursue and grab a really good goalie.
3) Willingness to find some sizable defensemen who can add some grit
4) Take a chance on some outstate kids for a change. Warroad, Hermantown, Hibbing, Moorhead. it just adds more to the statewide appeal of this team when there is representation from places like that. I'm not saying take lesser players. I'm suggesting that, if things are pretty equal, take the Hibbing kid instead of the Edina kid.
5) At least pursue the Mr Hockey winner each year. Some people like to say that we "don't get" the Mr Hockeys anymore. It is because we don't really pursue them, in our zest to "get older."
6) Personality - I am sure Bob is a fine guy, but he has never struck me as a real leader... someone who attracts people to him. We need that.
7) Game management/strategy - Yeah, I agree with Bonin here too. Really dislike our power play. The % aren't horrible but we just have no flow. And then there is the tendency to go into the defensive shell. When we get a two goal lead, we're immediately flipping the switch to a single forward forecheck. Hate that.

This is not to take anything away from Bob Motzko. His teams have been successful. He has dealt with unimaginable personal tragedy. And he is a Gopher, through and through.

But all in all, if I were Coyle, I'd maybe let Bob stay for one more season. Talk to Barr's agent immediately though. Get that lined up. Let Bob resign after one more run at this thing next year. Then inject a new shot of life into the program.

End of rant.

For now, I'll be cheering my A$$ off for Bob and the boys to get it done this year.
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just some random comments on a few of these

3: we have it coming. Rombach is 6'6" and Phillips is 6'5" and Philips especially has been known for his physical game.
4: agree would love to see more 218 area code kids. Highly competitive turf though with UMD, UND, SCSU, Mankato, Bemidji all looking for same areas. That said, it's a different style/brand often times up there and we could use that edge and physicality many of them play with while also enhancing the program's appeal in rural MN
5: I think this idea Bob "doesn't recruit" some of these guys and is trying to "get older" so he's avoiding these players just isn't true. After Brodzinski, they've been 4 northern kids and Burrows. They definitely recruited Burrows for example. If they were all choosing to go to UND, Denver, Michigan/MSU, or BC/BU, it would be one thing.
7: I think we all hate our PP because we think we should score every other time with all the talent we have. Yet at the same time BC is 39th (we're 11th) and we're within a half percentage point of the so called "good looking" PP of WMU. In reality, this PP goes as far as Rinzel will take it and he's been bipolar all year. WMUs PP looks great when Bump is feeling it. Denver's when Buium is on. As far as the "defensive shell", we are not alone in this. I agree I also hate it, but it's how teams play in today's game. Think we're all just jaded to it with Bob because of the QU game, which is absolutely fair though much of that is also on the players who for whatever reason were also making mistakes repeatedly for the last half of the game.

I think Bob is fine but would like to see us get younger (or at least with some more outward passion/fire) at HC if we're making the change and is part of what I'd like with Barr (someone like Raboin needs more time imo before I'd consider him). Our coaching pipeline right now isn't great but no reason we can't go outside and bring someone in.
 

Grw
upnorthkid said:
just some random comments on a few of these

3: we have it coming. Rombach is 6'6" and Phillips is 6'5" and Philips especially has been known for his physical game.
4: agree would love to see more 218 area code kids. Highly competitive turf though with UMD, UND, SCSU, Mankato, Bemidji all looking for same areas. That said, it's a different style/brand often times up there and we could use that edge and physicality many of them play with while also enhancing the program's appeal in rural MN
5: I think this idea Bob "doesn't recruit" some of these guys and is trying to "get older" so he's avoiding these players just isn't true. After Brodzinski, they've been 4 northern kids and Burrows. They definitely recruited Burrows for example. If they were all choosing to go to UND, Denver, Michigan/MSU, or BC/BU, it would be one thing.
7: I think we all hate our PP because we think we should score every other time with all the talent we have. Yet at the same time BC is 39th (we're 11th) and we're within a half percentage point of the so called "good looking" PP of WMU. In reality, this PP goes as far as Rinzel will take it and he's been bipolar all year. WMUs PP looks great when Bump is feeling it. Denver's when Buium is on. As far as the "defensive shell", we are not alone in this. I agree I also hate it, but it's how teams play in today's game. Think we're all just jaded to it with Bob because of the QU game, which is absolutely fair though much of that is also on the players who for whatever reason were also making mistakes repeatedly for the last half of the game.

I think Bob is fine but would like to see us get younger (or at least with some more outward passion/fire) at HC if we're making the change and is part of what I'd like with Barr (someone like Raboin needs more time imo before I'd consider him). Our coaching pipeline right now isn't great but no reason we can't go outside and bring someone in.
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Great points
 

By the way the "good looking" PP I mentioned yesterday was Nodak's. 26.4%. Also DU's looked light years different than the Gophers. 29.8%
 

bonin21 said:
By the way the "good looking" PP I mentioned yesterday was Nodak's. 26.4%. Also DU's looked light years different than the Gophers. 29.8%
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UNDs PP got one SOG last night. Their second power play they barely even managed to get set up in the zone and WMU had the best chances on it. Good looking comment was more Starman raving about it and Bump shooting all night

Interestingly enough, the NCHC has some of the worst PKs in the country with UMD (57th at 73%), Omaha (53rd 76%), and Miami (46th at 77%). UND was 13/32 (40.6%) against those teams and 13/78 (16.6%) against everyone else. Kind of like everyone who looks really good on the PP against us and our PK that's been ass this year.

It's part of why I like conference ranks a little better as it shows how you're doing against the same teams. UNDs PP isn't bad, but they're not lightyears better than MNs by any means. We've also scored PP goals in 6 straight games right now. Hopefully that continues, especially given our season long PK woes

DUs power play I totally agree. So many shooters and they move the puck excellently (as well as enter the zone cleanly so frequently).
 
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bonin21 said:
At a program like this, this thread doesn't come too early. Even if it gets dusty at some point. I watched what happened to this program when Lucia was allowed to keep his job for two, if not three, extra seasons.

After almost seven full seasons, I have seen enough to know Motzko hockey. I'm out on the entire staff including goaltending coach, the skating coach if they still have one, and even the trainer as they get outworked so often.

Motzko has been too "smart" for the transfer portal, no longer gets any Mr. Hockeys (a big part of U hockey tradition), and too slow to hit up the CHL to start filling massive gaps for next year. He may lose all four first rounders this spring with zero in the pipeline. Of the three big transfers he did get: one did nothing here and then went to SCSU and was great, one sought him out moreso than a strong recruiting push (Wood), and the other was the same with Souliere basically calling him. Had he put in any effort before that, the Gophers would have a true number 1 between the pipes right now.

These Gopher teams have zero grit, play slowly, rely purely on skill, don't hit anybody... Special teams are a disaster and the PP has been poorly structured most seasons under Motzko. Goaltending recruiting and management is unacceptable for a program of this size. Soft teams that pass and pass and pass and then miss the net instead of getting shots on net to create rebounds and crash the net. They can't bury breakways because of lack of tight scoring skill which is reflected in the shootout.

It's a high likelihood Motzko's legacy is choking with the best roster in program history. Maybe the single biggest choke in program history as well.

It's possible they win a game or two this NCAA tourney. I see maybe a first round win. You will get your 20+ win seasons that go nowhere until he decides to retire or is encouraged to do so. Need to go better and younger with the next staff and that would not be hard to do.

As of March 9, 2025, my number one candidate for a clean sweep staff overhaul is Ben Barr and anyone he wants to bring. Better hope to land him before he pulls off a huge underdog program victory and gets Maine a title.
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Yes, it is too early. Good grief, give it a rest.
 
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Just realized Motzko is 63. Geez. Lucia was 59 his last season. I think a retirement or "retirement" will come next spring at the latest.
 

upnorthkid said:
I'd put it pretty low they'd look to Barr with their coaching pipeline. Would envision they either let him go or he gets one more crack after firing some assistants.
Most fans seem to want to go with someone who played there which can't blame them with their guys who have gone into coaching
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The last time UND went outside of the pipeline was 1968. I bet Barr's interest is at least gauged. For him it would be an upgrade to resources and a chance to double his salary.
 

Barr's reputation is growing RAPIDLY. I don't think he'll be available after spring/summer of 2026 as someone will scoop him up. Here are the Spittin Chiclets guys talking about him. Earlier in the episode they talked about how insane the 2023 Gophers roster was and yet they still didn't win it all. Gage Ausmus, a UND guy, even recently admitted they might have been the best college team ever had they not choked away the big one.
 

If Motzko knows what's good for this program he'll retire tomorrow. He will never bring the U a title after the biggest choke in program history two years ago. Zero Pride on Ice by his teams.
 



bonin21 said:
If Motzko knows what's good for this program he'll retire tomorrow. He will never bring the U a title after the biggest choke in program history two years ago. Zero Pride on Ice by his teams.
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I agree 100%. His teams horribly underperform in big games..... Too little inspired play, and coming out in the third trying to rope-a-dope on a two goal lead. That's coaching.
 

Woke up angry and sad. Get this excuse machine away from this program asap.

Read the signs. Recruiting is going WAY down. The teams are going to get worse and worse just as they have the last three seasons down from the peak. We saw the same with Lucia. Get him out before it even starts to get close to the bottom.
 
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I think it's time to move on from Motzko now. I get college hockey is competitive and winning the title isn't the easiest thing to do. Since 2000 Minnesota has two national titles. Michigan has none, while Wisconsin, North Dakota, Boston U and Michigan State have one each. Boston College and Denver are the only other Blue Bloods to win multiple titles.

Minnesota has been to 7 Frozen Fours since 2000, tied with Denver, plus more than Boston U (4), Wisconsin (2) and Michigan State (2). Only behind North Dakota (9), Michigan (9) and Boston College (10). I know it's easy to want more success with Gopher hockey but the college hockey landscape has gotten tougher, especially with the emergence of other programs in the state.

That's why I was a bit hesitant with thinking Motzko should be on the hot seat earlier. However, in the last month he had a chance to clinch the B1G regular season title and couldn't, was bounced in the first round of the B1G Tournament and then bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

His teams just don't seem to win when a lot is on the line. That 2023 team was probably the best Minnesota has had since 2003, had a better chance in the title game than the 2014 squad did, led in the closing minutes and still couldn't seal the deal.

I appreciate that his teams have made the Frozen Four, won some conference banners and has gotten crowds back at Mariucci, but I don't have confidence in a program he coaches winning the national championship.
 

IceBoxGopher said:
I think it's time to move on from Motzko now. I get college hockey is competitive and winning the title isn't the easiest thing to do. Since 2000 Minnesota has two national titles. Michigan has none, while Wisconsin, North Dakota, Boston U and Michigan State have one each. Boston College and Denver are the only other Blue Bloods to win multiple titles.

Minnesota has been to 7 Frozen Fours since 2000, tied with Denver, plus more than Boston U (4), Wisconsin (2) and Michigan State (2). Only behind North Dakota (9), Michigan (9) and Boston College (10). I know it's easy to want more success with Gopher hockey but the college hockey landscape has gotten tougher, especially with the emergence of other programs in the state.

That's why I was a bit hesitant with thinking Motzko should be on the hot seat earlier. However, in the last month he had a chance to clinch the B1G regular season title and couldn't, was bounced in the first round of the B1G Tournament and then bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

His teams just don't seem to win when a lot is on the line. That 2023 team was probably the best Minnesota has had since 2003, had a better chance in the title game than the 2014 squad did, led in the closing minutes and still couldn't seal the deal.

I appreciate that his teams have made the Frozen Four, won some conference banners and has gotten crowds back at Mariucci, but I don't have confidence in a program he coaches winning the national championship.
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its kind of a tough thing as parity has become more pronounced because of older players and significant reduction in penalties in the postseason which favors older, heavier, grittier teams (and when you just have to win one game instead of a series, it amplifies). MSU had the same thing happen against Cornell yesterday (and had their stud goalie give up a softie) where they got outplayed and outshot at the end. It becomes painfully apparent when you take away the skill option for a lot of high end guys in the postseason and basically push a team into having to try play a different style because it was decided to swallow whistles and I wouldn't want whoever the gopher coach is to change the comp of this team greatly that is fun to watch from season to season, but I think this is a major reason why the number of titles won by the "most talented" teams has dropped so precipitously (the top KRACH team entering the postseason hasn't won a title since DU in 2016-17).

All that said, I do think we're at a point where we need to get younger at the HC position. Bob is going to be, I believe, the oldest HC in the B10 next year and we're getting waxed by other blue bloods on the recruiting routinely by teams that all have substantially younger HCs (Nightengale, Carle, Naurato, Pandolfo and to a lesser extent Brown at BC). I'm ready to turn the page but think what Bob has done to this point means he gets to decide if he wants to coach out his contract or not as firing a guy who has gone to 2 FFs in the last 4 years feels like not how you want to treat your coach.
 



IceBoxGopher said:
I think it's time to move on from Motzko now. I get college hockey is competitive and winning the title isn't the easiest thing to do. Since 2000 Minnesota has two national titles. Michigan has none, while Wisconsin, North Dakota, Boston U and Michigan State have one each. Boston College and Denver are the only other Blue Bloods to win multiple titles.

Minnesota has been to 7 Frozen Fours since 2000, tied with Denver, plus more than Boston U (4), Wisconsin (2) and Michigan State (2). Only behind North Dakota (9), Michigan (9) and Boston College (10). I know it's easy to want more success with Gopher hockey but the college hockey landscape has gotten tougher, especially with the emergence of other programs in the state.

That's why I was a bit hesitant with thinking Motzko should be on the hot seat earlier. However, in the last month he had a chance to clinch the B1G regular season title and couldn't, was bounced in the first round of the B1G Tournament and then bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

His teams just don't seem to win when a lot is on the line. That 2023 team was probably the best Minnesota has had since 2003, had a better chance in the title game than the 2014 squad did, led in the closing minutes and still couldn't seal the deal.

I appreciate that his teams have made the Frozen Four, won some conference banners and has gotten crowds back at Mariucci, but I don't have confidence in a program he coaches winning the national championship.
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You can't give the Bulldogs credit for their 3 nattys? :)
 

PMWinSTP said:
Yes, it is too early. Good grief, give it a rest.
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I don’t believe that it comes too early. If it goes on too long they will be playing in an empty arena or selling discounted tickets as they did even this year. We recently went through this and I can’t believe that it would hurt the program to begin the conversation. On the other hand an empty area has to hurt recruiting and it has to make motivating the players harder.
 

If Barr wasn't an option, would Hakstol consideration create a riot in Dinkytown? Surprisingly to me, he's already 56 years old himself so that might also be a deterrent.
 

Would never take or want the job lol
Slim Tubby said:
If Barr wasn't an option, would Hakstol consideration create a riot in Dinkytown? Surprisingly to me, he's already 56 years old himself so that might also be a deterrent.
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If you want to know the reputation Motzko has currently brought the program:
"So how the f*** didn't Minnesota when then if he (Rinzel) played there, didn't Snuggerud play there. They had all these guys and they couldn't win?"
"They're chokers. They're chokers. They're chokers."
 

bonin21 said:
If you want to know the reputation Motzko has currently brought the program:
"So how the f*** didn't Minnesota when then if he (Rinzel) played there, didn't Snuggerud play there. They had all these guys and they couldn't win?"
"They're chokers. They're chokers. They're chokers."
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keep me posted when they do this episode on BC and BU. They do this for clicks.

Not saying he's wrong and we should've won one, but in the context of the players we've had, if you're citing Rinzel and Snuggerud and not Cooley, Knies and Faber, that tells me a whole lot more about what you actually know of the program/team given that was an all-time choke job.
 

upnorthkid said:
keep me posted when they do this episode on BC and BU. They do this for clicks.

Not saying he's wrong and we should've won one, but in the context of the players we've had, if you're citing Rinzel and Snuggerud and not Cooley, Knies and Faber, that tells me a whole lot more about what you actually know of the program/team given that was an all-time choke job.
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They said BC were chokers too earlier. Which is accurate.

They are citing Rinzel and Snuggerud with respect to this year (talking about how they and Moore just signed) but have previously spoken about the 2023 roster. Hence their current opinion of the program as chokers which is accurate.
 

bonin21 said:
They said BC were chokers too earlier. Which is accurate.

They are citing Rinzel and Snuggerud with respect to this year (talking about how they and Moore just signed) but have previously spoken about the 2023 roster. Hence their current opinion of the program as chokers which is accurate.
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the team this year isn't even remotely a "choke" given they weren't expected to win. Sure I guess you can say they blew a game against UMass with the refs help (guess we should say MSU and Nightengale are chokers as well blowing back to back years as a 1 seed). By this definition, Michigan are chokers as well. We should just call everyone but DU chokers I think.

if you don't see this is hyperbole for clicks, I can't help you
 

It won't happen.......but if Minnesota is really serious about moving on up....then go make Rochester (MN) native Pat Ferschweiler an $800k/year offer and have him bring the Slukynsky brothers, Bump and other high end talent with him.

I know he's a Western Michigan grad, but he grew up in Minnesota and money talks. Motzko left his alma mater to coach the Gophers, Ferschweiler could double his salary.

Pat is an excellent coach.
 

tjgopher said:
It won't happen.......but if Minnesota is really serious about moving on up....then go make Rochester (MN) native Pat Ferschweiler an $800k/year offer and have him bring the Slukynsky brothers, Bump and other high end talent with him.

I know he's a Western Michigan grad, but he grew up in Minnesota and money talks. Motzko left his alma mater to coach the Gophers, Ferschweiler could double his salary.

Pat is an excellent coach.
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is philly going to let Bump come back to college with how bad they are? Ferschweiler I think could definitely end up getting some looks, especially if one of the college coaches at a blue blood gets poached to the NHL vacancies that will be coming up
 

upnorthkid said:
is philly going to let Bump come back to college with how bad they are? Ferschweiler I think could definitely end up getting some looks, especially if one of the college coaches at a blue blood gets poached to the NHL vacancies that will be coming up
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Not sure on Bump or anything else. I'd be in on Fershweiler either way I think. And, I'd take his goalie and 2nd leading scorer who happen to be brothers from a hockey rich town in Minnesota LOL.

That said, I'm completely fine bringing Bob back, which is what is going to happen anyway.

I was just implying if the U wanted to make a change, then go "big" with this guy.
 
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