Monday, May 18, 2015

Hakstol Jumps to NHL’s Flyers

Becomes third NHL head coach in history hired to first job out of NCAA ranks.

Hakstol Jumps to NHL's Flyers
Hakstol, center, led North Dakota to its seventh Frozen Four in 11 years in 2015 (Photo by ESPN Images).

Dave Hakstol, who has developed players like Jonathan Toews, Zach Parise and T.J. Oshie during his time at North Dakota, is following them to the NHL as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, the Flyers announced Monday.

Hakstol becomes the first college head coach to be named to the same post in the NHL since Herb Brooks in 1987 and just the third NHL head coach ever to get his first head coaching job in the league straight from the NCAA ranks (joining Bob Johnson, Ned Harkness).


NCAA to the NHL
Dave Hakstol2015North DakotaPhiladelphia
Herb Brooks*1987St. Cloud StateMinnesota
Bob Johnson1982WisconsinCalgary
Ned Harkness1970CornellDetroit
* Second NHL stint

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall is familiar with Hakstol, as Hextall’s son, Brett, played at North Dakota from 2008-11.

Hakstol’s 11-year run at North Dakota featured at least 22 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance every season. He reached seven Frozen Fours and posted a .654 winning percentage (289-143-43).

Hakstol, who was a member of College Hockey Inc.’s Board of Directors since 2012, becomes the fifth former NCAA player among NHL head coaches (joining Jack Capuano, Peter Laviolette, Todd Richards and Dave Tippett).