Don Lucia (born August 20, 1958) is an American former ice hockey head coach, who was named as inaugural commissioner of the second Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) on June 17, 2020. The CCHA, which began play in the 2021–22 season, is a revival of an NCAA Division I men's hockey conference whose original version operated from 1971 to 2013 before folding in the wake of massive conference realignment in the sport.

Coaching career

Lucia is best known for his 19-season tenure as head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's hockey team (1999–2018). He twice led the Golden Gophers to the NCAA national championship title, in 2002 and 2003. Under Lucia, the Golden Gophers won four MacNaughton Cups (awarded to the WCHA's regular season champion), the Broadmoor Trophy three times (awarded to the WCHA playoff champion), and the Big Ten regular season championship in each of that league's first four seasons. He coached one Hobey Baker Award winner, Jordan Leopold. He is one of 10 coaches to record more than 600 NCAA men's ice hockey wins, and one of four to win national titles in consecutive years. Lucia graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1981, where he played defense for the school's hockey team.

During the 2008–2009 season, Lucia was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, but only missed four games while battling the autoimmune disease. This illness, combined with a growing number of college hockey players taking their talents to the NHL, led Lucia's Gophers to a 17–18–2 record during the 2009–2010 season. That season was Lucia's only year with a losing record with the Gophers, and his first since coaching Alaska-Fairbanks in the 1991–1992 season.

The Gophers eventually returned to the top of the WCHA, winning back-to-back conference titles in 2012 and 2013. In the summer of 2013 Minnesota joined with 5 other schools to form the Big Ten's ice hockey division. The Gophers won the inaugural regular season title and advanced all the way to the National Championship game where they fell to Union. Lucia won the first 4 Big Ten titles, but could only garner 1 conference tournament championship (2015) and despite the success in the Big Ten, Minnesota was not considered a contender for the NCAA title most years.

Minnesota finished 5th in 2018 and with many of the fans unhappy with the direction of the program, Lucia resigned after 19 years behind the bench.

Personal life

Lucia and his wife Joyce have four children.

Both his sons were drafted in the NHL entry draft. Tony was selected in the 6th round of the 2005 NHL entry draft by the San Jose Sharks and Mario was selected in the 2nd round of the 2011 NHL entry draft by the Minnesota Wild.

Head coaching record

Record table
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Alaska–Fairbanks Nanooks (GWHC) (1987–1988)
1987-88Alaska–Fairbanks21–10–25–3–01st
Alaska–Fairbanks Nanooks Independent (1988–1993)
1988-89Alaska–Fairbanks21–12–3
1989-90Alaska–Fairbanks10–20–9
1990-91Alaska–Fairbanks17–16–2
1991-92Alaska–Fairbanks7–27–1
1992-93Alaska–Fairbanks23–12–2
Alaska–Fairbanks:99–97–19
Colorado College Tigers (WCHA) (1993–1999)
1993-94Colorado College23–11–518–9–51stWCHA first round
1994-95Colorado College30–12–122–9–11stNCAA West Regional semifinals
1995-96Colorado College33–5–426–2–41stNCAA runner-up
1996-97Colorado College25–15–417–11–4T-4thNCAA Frozen Four
1997-98Colorado College26–13–316–10–23rdNCAA East Regional semifinals
1998-99Colorado College29–12–120–8–02ndNCAA East Regional semifinals
Colorado College:166–68–18119–49–16
Minnesota Golden Gophers (WCHA) (1999–2013)
1999-00Minnesota20–19–213–13–26thWCHA third-place game (loss)
2000-01Minnesota27–13–218–8–23rdNCAA East Regional Quarterfinals
2001-02Minnesota32–8–418–7–33rdNCAA national champion
2002-03Minnesota28–8–915–6–7T-2ndNCAA national champion
2003-04Minnesota27–14–315–12–1T-4thNCAA Midwest Regional Final
2004-05Minnesota28–15–117–10–1T-3rdNCAA Frozen Four
2005-06Minnesota27–9–520–5–31stNCAA West Regional semifinals
2006-07Minnesota31–10–318–7–31stNCAA West Regional Final
2007-08Minnesota19–17–99–12–77thNCAA Northeast Regional semifinals
2008-09Minnesota17–13–712–11–55thWCHA Quarterfinal
2009-10Minnesota18–19–212–14–27thWCHA first round
2010-11Minnesota16–14–613–10–55thWCHA first round
2011-12Minnesota28–14–120–8–01stNCAA Frozen Four
2012-13Minnesota26–9–516–7–5T-1stNCAA West Regional semifinals
Minnesota:344–182–59206–118–39
Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten) (2013–2018)
2013-14Minnesota28–7–614–3–31stNCAA runner-up
2014-15Minnesota23–13–312–5–31stNCAA Northeast Regional semifinals
2015-16Minnesota20–17–014–6–01stBig Ten Runner-Up
2016-17Minnesota23–12–314–5–11stNCAA Northeast Regional semifinals
2017-18Minnesota19–17–210–12–25th
Minnesota:113–66–1464–31–9
Total:722–413–110 (.624)
National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion

See also

External links

Awards and achievements
PrecededbyGeorge GwozdeckySpencer Penrose Award 1993–94SucceededbyShawn Walsh
PrecededbyMike Sertich George Gwozdecky George GwozdeckyWCHA Coach of the Year 1993–94 1995–96 2005–06 (with Bob Motzko)SucceededbyGeorge Gwozdecky Dean Blais Bob Motzko/Jamie Russell
PrecededbyAward CreatedBig Ten Coach of the Year 2013–14SucceededbyGuy Gadowsky