2007-2008 Men's Division 1 Coach-of-the-Year

The 2008 American Collegiate Hockey Association [ACHA] Men's Division 1 Coach-of-the-Year Award goes to Chad Cassel of the University of Illinois, as selected by the Head Coaches of ACHA Men's Division 1.  This is the 2nd ACHA Men's Division 1 Coach-of-the-Year Award for Chad, winning his first in 2003.

The other finalists for the ACHA Men's Division 1 Coach-of-the-Year Award were:

• Derek Schaub of Lindenwood University
• Mike DeAngelis of the University of Delaware
• Larry Brzeczkowski of Niagara University
• Andy Gojdycz of Rutgers University

Chad will be presented his ACHA Men's Division 1 Coach-of-the-Year Award at the American Hockey Coaches Association Coach-of-the-Year Celebration on Saturday, April 26, 2008, at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in Naples, FL.

2007-2008 was a banner season for the University of Illinois and Chad Cassel, including: The 2008 ACHA Men's Division 1 National Championship; The first perfect season in the 17-year history of ACHA Men’s Division 1 play (38-0-0); Central States Collegiate Hockey League [CSCHL] Regular Season Champions; CSCHL Playoff Champions; CSCHL Coach-of-the-Year; Holding the No. 1 Ranking spot from October 19 until the conclusion of the season; the most wins in a season for the University of Illinois (38). 

On December 18, 2007, Chad was voted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame in the Players Category, along with Stan Mikita, Val Belmonte, and Scott Paluch

Chad has now been named CSCHL Coach-of-the-Year three times, his first coming in 2003, and back-to-back awards in 2007 and 2008. Chad’s teams have won 2 Central States Collegiate Hockey League Regular-Season Championships and 6 CSCHL Playoff Championships.

Chad has been the Head Coach of the University of Illinois since 1997, spanning 11 seasons, and has compiled an overall record of 297-93-13. Before taking over as Head Coach, Chad served as an Assistant Coach at Illinois during the 1996-1997 season.

Chad’s team have qualified for the ACHA Men’s Division 1 National Championships in each of his 11 seasons, including eight trips to the final four (1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008). 

Chad reached the 200-win milestone on October 8, 2005 and is the All-Time Winningest Head Coach in Illinois history, surpassing Mark Roszkowski’s former record of 210 wins in 2005 also. 

Chad has been behind the bench for all four ACHA teams that have represented USA Hockey at the Winter World University Games: Head Coach, Torino, Italy (2007); Head Coach, Innsbruck, Austria (2005); Assistant Coach, Tarvisio, Italy (2003); and Assistant Coach, Zakopane, Poland (2001).

Before transitioning to coaching, Chad played four years of ACHA Hockey, beginning with the Inaugural Season of 1991-1992. Chad played 2 years at Ohio University before finishing his last 2 seasons with the University of Illinois. During his senior season of 1994-1995, Chad: was Team Captain; set the single-season Illinois assist record (38); was 1st Team All-CSCHL, 2nd Team ACHA All-American, and a Bob Johnson Award finalist. The Bob Johnson Award, presented annually by the Bob Johnson Foundation and College Hockey Guide, was given to the ACHA player that best demonstrated hockey ability and achievement, leadership, sportsmanship and enthusiasm, as well as academic and community service accomplishments

Chad and his wife Sara have two children, Sam (2 years) and Margo (3 months) and reside in Champaign, IL. Chad manages campus real estate while Sara is a stay-at-home mother.

CHAD CASSEL’S CAREER COACHING RECORD

Past Winners of the ACHA Men’s Division 1 Coach-of-the-Year Award: