Bob Motzko
St. Cloud State
Record: 22-16-4 (13-13-2 WCHA, tied for fifth)

When he was named head coach of his alma mater’s hockey program in late August, Bob Motzko didn’t get a chance to celebrate. There was a cloud over the transaction, with the sudden resignation of Craig Dahl, the only coach the Huskies had known as a Division I program. And frankly, there was no time for celebration, what with practice and the 2005-06 season less than six weeks away.

Many, including INCH, predicted a rough go of things for Motzko’s first team, thinking that the turmoil of the late coaching change, added to a team that had struggled the previous season, would mean a long, cold winter in St. Cloud. Even with a home win over then-no. 1 Minnesota, the Huskies started 2-6-1 and appeared headed nowhere fast.

Motzko then guided the club on a 15-4-2 streak that had some in St. Cloud dreaming of home ice in the WCHA playoffs. After a playoff upset of Colorado College and a run to the WCHA Final Five’s title game, Motzko still wouldn’t celebrate. Instead, he lamented the NCAA tourney berth his team had just barely missed, and thanked his seniors for giving all they had in their final season.

“They gave us their heart, and got this program going in a positive direction,” Motzko said after his team’s season-ending 5-3 loss to North Dakota. “We belong here. We’re going to be really proud of this in a few days, but it stings tonight.”

Motzko was a winner as a coach and general manger in the USHL, and tutored in the ways of college hockey under NCAA title-winners like Minnesota coach Don Lucia and Denver coach George Gwozdecky before getting to run his own show. Lucia, who was Motzko’s boss for four seasons, says the quick turnaround in St. Cloud was to be expected.

“It’s not surprising because Bob has been successful everywhere he’s worked,” said Lucia. “He’s a great recruiter, and loves to be on the road. But it’s not fair to just put that label on him, because he’s also a great coach.” – Jess Myers

Runner-up: Jack Parker, Boston University