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My first season as head coach of the was as meaningful and memorable as I could have imagined. Being hired on April 2, 2025, gave me the full spring and summer to build a new coaching staff, get to know our players, and establish the foundation of our identity, standards and goals.

We started the year 3–2, still finding our footing as a new group, but from that point on, the team took off, winning 23 straight games and establishing ourselves as one of the top teams in the country. From day one, our players set the tone. They were welcoming, committed, and fully bought into building something special together.

Our goal at the start of the season was to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023. Without an automatic bid from our conference, the Little East Conference (LEC), we knew it would require a consistent, high-level body of work to earn an NCAA at-large selection. What followed exceeded every expectation. This group didn’t just meet the standard, they raised it. We spent over a month ranked number two in the country to close the season, earned an at-large bid, secured a first-round bye, and won a home quarterfinal NCAA tournament game to advance to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2018.

Along the way, the accomplishments were remarkable: a perfect 20–0 league record, LEC regular season and tournament championships, a 23-game winning streak, and a home holiday tournament title. But beyond the results, what truly defined this team was its character. Their unity, selflessness and genuine care for one another created a culture where every player was willing to do whatever it took for the team’s success.

The Frozen Four experience itself was unforgettable. No one on our staff or roster had been part of a Frozen Four before. Traveling to Minnesota, practicing at the University of St. Thomas’ state-of-the-art arena, attending the NCAA banquet, and experiencing all the details of the national stage made it incredibly special. We were by far the youngest team in the frozen four, with only three seniors — as well as the most inexperienced team, with only three players having participated in the NCAA tournament before. Nazareth had been to five straight NCAA tournaments. Amherst had played in four straight NCAA tournaments and played in the national championship game twice in those four years. Lastly, University of Wisconsin River Falls had played in seven straight NCAA tournaments and also won back-to-back national championships in 2024 and 2025 heading into the 2026 tournament. 

As special as this season was, it also laid the foundation for what’s next. This team isn’t satisfied with reaching the Frozen Four. We’re driven to take the next step. With the majority of our roster returning and now equipped with valuable NCAA Tournament experience, our focus is clear: we’re aiming for another national championship, our program’s third. 

This season was a whirlwind in the best way possible, one built on trust and an unwavering commitment to each other — and it’s only the beginning.