The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) has announced the finalists for the 2022-23 Spencer Penrose Award for Men's NCAA Hockey Division I Coach of the Year and Michigan Tech's Joe Shawhan has been selected.
Shawhan led the Huskies to a 24-11-4 overall record this season, including a 15-7-4 mark in CCHA, play earning CCHA Coach of the Year honors. Tech finished just two points off the MacNaughton Cup pace after being pick picked fifth in the CCHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll. he won his 100th career game at Bowling Green on November 4, 2022, and moved into second place in wins at Tech on March 4, 2023, in the CCHA Playoffs against St. Thomas.
The Huskies' 24 victories are the most in Shawhan’s six seasons at the helm and he has now surpassed the 20-win mark three times in his tenure. Michigan Tech made the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid for the second straight season and its third national tournament appearance under Shawhan. John MacInnes is the only other coach in program history to have taken the team to three NCAA Tournaments.
The Huskies are ranked No. 13 in both the DCU/USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls. They were ranked as high as No. 10 which is the highest for the Black and Gold since April 2015.
Michigan Tech's coaching staff also consists of second-year full-time assistant coach, and former Husky, Tyler Shelast, first-year assistant coach Jordy Murray, and volunteer/goaltender coach, and former Husky, Jamie Phillips.
Joining Shawhan on the finalist list are Western Michigan's Pat Ferschweiler, Alaska's Erik Largen, Minnesota's Bob Motzko, Michigan's Brandon Naurato, Boston University's Jay Pandolfo, Quinnipiac's Rand Pecknold and RIT's Wayne Wilson.
The 2023Â Spencer Penrose Award winner will be announced Wednesday, Apr. 6.