Craig Dahl (ice hockey)

Craig Dahl (born January 28, 1953) is an American ice hockey coach. He was the head coach of St. Cloud State from 1987 thru 2005.[1] After retiring from coaching for about six years, Dahl returned to help Chris Schultz at SUNY Geneseo starting in 2011-12.

Craig Dahl
Biographical details
BornJanuary 28, 1953 (aged 70)
Albert Lea, Minnesota
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1980–1985Bethel (MN)
1985–1986Wisconsin–River Falls
1986–1987St. Cloud State (assistant)
1987–2005St. Cloud State
2011–presentSUNY Geneseo (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall407–401–59
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
WCHA tournament championship (2001)
Awards
MIAC Coach of the Year (1985)
WCHA Coach of the Year (1998)

Career

Although Dahl received a football scholarship from the University of Minnesota, he transferred to and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1976 with a degree in physical education and social sciences.[2] Dahl began his coaching career a few years later when he took over the top job at Bethel College from David Harris.[3]

Over the course of 5 seasons at the helm Dahl directed the fledgling program on an upwards trajectory, going from 3 wins in his first season to 15 in his last, including being named 1985 MIAC Coach of the Year. Dahl moved east for 1985-86, taking over at Wisconsin–River Falls before receiving the opportunity to serve under storied college coach Herb Brooks as an assistant with St. Cloud State as it was getting ready to move up to Division I.[4]

Dahl remained as an assistant for only one season, however, as Brooks moved back to the NHL to coach the Minnesota North Stars the next year. With the Huskies playing as a D-I independent starting in 1987-88, Dahl was offered the head coaching duties and proceeded to serve in that position for the next 19 years. In only his second year, Dahl led the Huskies to their first tournament berth but lost both games against defending champion Lake Superior State in the first round. In 1991, St. Cloud joined the WCHA, giving it a much better opportunity to receive further invites to the NCAA tournament though it took over a decade for the Huskies t make their return.[5]

Despite playing against multiple powerhouse teams throughout the 1990s, Dahl was able to keep St. Cloud's record respectable, posting 4 winning seasons and finishing with a sub-.400 mark only once (1995–96) while also making the conference tournament title game in 1994. Dahl closed out the Huskies first decade with the WCHA by leading St. Cloud to their first tournament berth in 2000. The next season Dahl led the Huskies to their first 30-win season and conference tournament championship (the only time in school for either (as of 2014)). From 2000 to 2003 Dahl brought the St. Cloud to four consecutive NCAA tournament berths but failed to win a single game.

After the 2004-05 season Dahl announced his decision to step down as head coach of St. Cloud State to pursue a career in the private sector.[6]

While the move seemed to be an end to Dahl's coaching career he made an unexpected returned behind the bench as a volunteer assistant with SUNY Geneseo in 2011-12, a position he continues to occupy. (as of 2014)[7]

Head coaching record

Ice hockey
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bethel Royals (MIAC) (1980–1985)
1980–81 Bethel 3–23–13–12–18th
1981–82 Bethel 15–15–07–9–0T–5th
1982–83 Bethel 10–17–03–13–09th
1982–83 Bethel 11–14–16–10–0T–5th
1984–85 Bethel 15–10–011–5–0T–2nd
Bethel: 54–80–2
Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons (NCHA) (1985–1986)
1985–86 Wisconsin–River Falls 15–12–311–5–04thNCHA Semifinals
Wisconsin–River Falls: 15–12–3
St. Cloud State Huskies (Independent) (1987–1990)
1987–88 St. Cloud State 11–25–1
1988–89 St. Cloud State 19–16–2NCAA first round
1989–90 St. Cloud State 17–19–2
St. Cloud State: 47–60–5
St. Cloud State Huskies (WCHA) (1990–2005)
1990–91 St. Cloud State 18–19–412–16–4t–5thWCHA first round
1991–92 St. Cloud State 14–21–212–19–1t–7thWCHA first round
1992–93 St. Cloud State 15–18–314–16–27thWCHA first round
1993–94 St. Cloud State 21–13–416–12–44thWCHA Runner–Up
1994–95 St. Cloud State 17–20–115–16–1t–5thWCHA first round
1995–96 St. Cloud State 13–22–410–18–48thWCHA Quarterfinal
1996–97 St. Cloud State 23–13–418–10–43rdWCHA third-place game (loss)
1997–98 St. Cloud State 22–16–216–11–14thWCHA third-place game (loss)
1998–99 St. Cloud State 16–18–58–16–47thWCHA Quarterfinal
1999–00 St. Cloud State 23–14–316–9–33rdNCAA East regional quarterfinals
2000–01 St. Cloud State 31–9–120–8–02ndNCAA West regional semifinals
2001–02 St. Cloud State 29–11–219–7–22ndNCAA West regional quarterfinals
2002–03 St. Cloud State 17–16–512–11–56thNCAA Northeast regional semifinals
2003–04 St. Cloud State 18–16–412–12–46thWCHA first round
2004–05 St. Cloud State 14–23–38–19–19thWCHA first round
St. Cloud State: 291–249–47208–200–40
Total:407–401–57

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References
  1. "Craig Dahl Year-By-Year Coaching Record". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  2. "Dahl Departs SCSU Coaching Position". USCHO.com. 2005-08-31. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  3. "Bethel Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  4. "Herb Brooks Year-By-Year Coaching Record". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  5. "St. Cloud State Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  6. "Men's hockey coach Craig Dahl gone after nearly two decades". St. Could State University. 2005-10-05. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  7. "Leo Roth: Dahl brings some of Brooks' magic to Geneseo". Democrat & Chronicle. 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
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