Gophers’ Motzko named Big Ten Coach of the Year
Gophers hockey coach Bob Motzko speaks with reporters at 3M Arena at Mariucci.[KSTP: Jeff Brioschi]
University of Minnesota men’s hockey coach Bob Motzko has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year, the conference announced Monday.
Additionally, Ben Meyers, Jackson LaCombe and Jared Moe were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team while Sammy Walker and Brannon McManus earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Tyler Nanne was Gopher Hockey’s recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
In his second season with the Gophers, Motzko led the Gophers to the Big Ten tournament semifinals for the second-straight year before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gophers also finished the regular season tied for second in the conference.
It’s the fifth career conference coach of the year accolade for Motzko after earning the honor in the WCHA in 2006 and 2007 and the NCHC in 2014 and 2018.