The University of Minnesota Duluth and men's hockey head coach Scott Sandelin have agreed to a four-year contract extension that will keep him behind the Bulldog bench through the 2024-25 season.

"I want to publicly thank (UMD Athletic Director) Josh Berlo and (UMD Chancellor) Lendley Black for their continued support and commitment to our men's hockey program," said Sandelin.  "I am so fortunate to work with a great coaching and support staff and some tremendous student-athletes. We have worked hard to build a culture of excellence both on and off the ice and I look forward to being a part of that in the years to come."

Sandelin concluded his program-record 19th season with the Bulldogs this past April by directing UMD to its second consecutive NCAA championship and its third national title since 2011.  His 2018-19 Bulldogs rolled up 29 overall victories – the second most in program history – and also captured their second NCHC Frozen championship in three years while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth year in a row. A five-time Spencer Penrose Award honoree as the American Hockey Coaches Association NCAA I Coach of the Year (winner in 2003-04, runnerup in 2010-11 and finalist the last three winters), Sandelin is the winningest coach in UMD history, going 369-311-87 and has won more game than any other NCHC bench boss (he's 76-55-13 in six seasons in that circuit). He's also had a hand in producing two Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners (Jack Connolly in 2011-12 and Junior Lessard in 2003-04), nine NCAA I All-Americans (including three-time pick Jack Connolly), 23 All-NCHC/WCHA honorees and two Olympians (Justin Faulk for Team USA in 2014 and Mason Raymond for Team Canada in 2018). In addition, 24 of Sandelin's pupils have gone on to do time in the National Hockey League, including a school-record 13 in 2018-19.

"This agreement further extends the exceptional leadership of Scott Sandelin and his staff," said Berlo. "UMD men's hockey, with Coach Sandelin at the helm, has established itself as the model program over the last decade through competitive excellence, academic achievement and community engagement while also facilitating great success of former Bulldog student athletes in the NHL.  I could not be more excited for our team, alumni, fans, campus, University system, and community to continue this tradition of excellence and source of pride for Bulldog Country and the State of Hockey.

"Under Scott's leadership, the UMD men's hockey program has provided incredible value through exposure on comprehensive institutional success. The program's recent achievements have generated over $20 million in earned media attention that shines a spotlight on the impressive academics, vibrant student life, groundbreaking research and exciting faculty accomplishments at the UMD. Scott has played a key role in growing revenues and enhancing fundraising for Bulldog athletics as we continue to set attendance and revenue records that contribute to the overall strength and success of the UMD athletics."

CLASSROOM
The UMD men's hockey program has attained a 3.00 grade point average or better nearly every year under his tenure. The Bulldog program has also been highly rated by the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate metric with perfect single-year scores of 1,000 in two (2013-14 and 2016-17) of the last five seasons.  The most recent score was a 981 for 2017-18 on a 1,000 point scale. This past winter, 15 Bulldogs earned NCHC All-Academic Team recognition with four of those (Matt and Mikey Anderson, Noah Cates and Tanner Laderoute) being named NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athletes for maintaining a 3.50 GPA or above.

COMPETITION
Sandelin's winning percentage in NCAA Tournament play -- .778 off a 21-6 record -- is the best of any active head coach (minimum eight games) and trails only the late Herb Brooks (.889 at the University of Minnesota) and Vic Heyliger (.800 at the University of Michigan) among all NCAA coaches. His Bulldogs are also a perfect 9-0 in first-round NCAA Tournament games and have now played in three straight Frozen Four title bouts. Sandelin's philosophy of playing the best competition is evident in the fact that in four of the past six years, UMD has ranked first in the nation in regular season strength of schedule.
 
COMMUNITY
Throughout his 19-year tenure, Sandelin has made community engagement a top priority for his staff and players. The Bulldogs regularly volunteer at local elementary schools and hospitals, the Boys and Girls Club, area youth hockey organizations, and Duluth Freighters Hockey.  Three of Sandelin's players have won or been a finalist for national community-service based honors during the past nine years -- Jack Connolly (Lowe's Senior CLASS Award recipient in 2012), Adam Krause (Hockey Humanitarian Award and Lowe's Senior CLASS Award finalists in 2015) and Karson Kuhlman (Lowe's Senior CLASS Award finalist in 2018).

This agreement is pending University of Minnesota Board of Regent approval at its upcoming June meeting.