Hockey world mourns sudden death of beloved Minnesota coach

The State of Hockey is in mourning following the passing of former University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs head coach Mike Sertich at the age of 77 earlier this week. Sertich served as the Bulldogs head coach from 1983 to 2000 and led them to back-to-back WCHA championships.

Additionally, Sertich earned three straight WCHA Coach of the Year awards from 1983 to 1985 with another in 1993. Following his departure from the Bulldogs, he would spend a brief period coaching Michigan Tech before serving as an assistant coach at the College of St. Scholastica in Minnesota. 

The following information regarding Sertich's coaching career comes via the UMD Bulldogs official site: 

"Sertich, who was at the helm of the UMD program from 1982-2000, guided UMD to all three of its Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season titles (1984-85 and 1993), both of its league playoff championships (1984-85) and its first four NCAA postseason berths (1983-85 and 1993). A native of Virginia, Minn., Sertich amassed an overall career record of 350-328-44. He was the recipient of the 1984 Spencer Penrose Award (American Hockey Coaches Association Coach of the Year) after his Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA title game against Bowling Green in Lake Placid, N.Y., and fell to the Falcons 5-4 after a four overtime thriller. Sertich returned UMD to the 1985 NCAA Frozen Four the following year and set a club mark for victories in the process (36-9-3 overall), and is one of just two four-time winners of the WCHA Coach of the Year Award (1983-85 and 1993) and the only individual to attain that honor three seasons in a row. Under Sertich, UMD produced three Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners (Tom Kurvers in 1984, Bill Watson in 1985 and Chris Marinucci in 1994), 11 NCAA All-Americans, five WCHA Player of the Year honorees, 10 Olympians and 21 future National Hockey League performers during his 18-year tenure."

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