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Mar. 25—GRAND FORKS — In 1978, UND launched a coaching search to replace Rube Bjorkman, who resigned after 10 seasons.
None of Bjorkman's last six teams had winning records — the worst stretch in program history.
UND athletic director Carl Miller's search started with Denver coach Marshall Johnston. He was interested in the job, but passed because his wife did not want to move to Grand Forks, according to reports.
Then, Ned Harkness appeared to be the target.
Harkness, who had won two NCAA national titles at Cornell, flew to Grand Forks to interview and thought he had the job.
"He (Miller) offered me the job last Tuesday," Harkness told the Herald. "I've been around hockey long enough to know when I'm being offered a job and when I'm not. I can say with 100 percent truth, unequivocally, that the job was mine."
But Miller didn't hire Harkness.
He went with Bjorkman's assistant coach, Gino Gasparini.
The hire was not popular in Grand Forks.
The Herald's Virg Foss and Abe Winter were flooded with phone calls. Foss reported that of the roughly 50 calls they received, not a single one approved of UND hiring Gasparini.
According to the Herald, "a group of UND's biggest financial backers met Monday afternoon to talk over ways of reversing the decision before it was made public in the press conference. It was impossible to do."
The Herald called it "one of the biggest controversies to erupt in UND sports circles."
Miller's reasoning for the hire: "The kids we have now aren't doing a bad job now. If Gasparini is given the opportunity, and given a good defensive coach, we're just three or four kids away from having a hell of a hockey team."
That's how it all started for what became one of the most important figures in UND hockey history.
In a hurry, Gasparini turned a dormant UND program into a powerhouse.
No Division-I men's college hockey team has won more NCAA titles than UND since Gasparini's hiring.
He took UND to the NCAA national championship game in his first year as head coach. He won it his second year. He won NCAA titles again in 1982 and 1987.
Gasparini brought Dean Blais on staff. Blais became his successor and added NCAA national championships in 1997 and 2000.
Gasparini recruited Dave Hakstol and Brad Berry, who coached for a combined 21 years without a losing season. Berry added another national championship in 2016.
The most unpopular hire in UND history may have been the best.
UND is now going into another coaching search.
The Fighting Hawks fired Berry after a decade at the helm. UND may announce his replacement as soon as this weekend.
The lesson from 1978: In the end, winning is what will matter.
Continue reading...
None of Bjorkman's last six teams had winning records — the worst stretch in program history.
UND athletic director Carl Miller's search started with Denver coach Marshall Johnston. He was interested in the job, but passed because his wife did not want to move to Grand Forks, according to reports.
Then, Ned Harkness appeared to be the target.
Harkness, who had won two NCAA national titles at Cornell, flew to Grand Forks to interview and thought he had the job.
"He (Miller) offered me the job last Tuesday," Harkness told the Herald. "I've been around hockey long enough to know when I'm being offered a job and when I'm not. I can say with 100 percent truth, unequivocally, that the job was mine."
But Miller didn't hire Harkness.
He went with Bjorkman's assistant coach, Gino Gasparini.
The hire was not popular in Grand Forks.
The Herald's Virg Foss and Abe Winter were flooded with phone calls. Foss reported that of the roughly 50 calls they received, not a single one approved of UND hiring Gasparini.
According to the Herald, "a group of UND's biggest financial backers met Monday afternoon to talk over ways of reversing the decision before it was made public in the press conference. It was impossible to do."
The Herald called it "one of the biggest controversies to erupt in UND sports circles."
Miller's reasoning for the hire: "The kids we have now aren't doing a bad job now. If Gasparini is given the opportunity, and given a good defensive coach, we're just three or four kids away from having a hell of a hockey team."
That's how it all started for what became one of the most important figures in UND hockey history.
In a hurry, Gasparini turned a dormant UND program into a powerhouse.
No Division-I men's college hockey team has won more NCAA titles than UND since Gasparini's hiring.
He took UND to the NCAA national championship game in his first year as head coach. He won it his second year. He won NCAA titles again in 1982 and 1987.
Gasparini brought Dean Blais on staff. Blais became his successor and added NCAA national championships in 1997 and 2000.
Gasparini recruited Dave Hakstol and Brad Berry, who coached for a combined 21 years without a losing season. Berry added another national championship in 2016.
The most unpopular hire in UND history may have been the best.
UND is now going into another coaching search.
The Fighting Hawks fired Berry after a decade at the helm. UND may announce his replacement as soon as this weekend.
The lesson from 1978: In the end, winning is what will matter.
Continue reading...
