Former Minnesota Coach Takes USIU Hockey Position

SAN DIEGO —  Imagine Bobby Knight leaving Indiana to become the head basketball coach at the University of Alaska. Or picture Michigan Coach Bo Schembechler taking over the football program at Slippery Rock.

Those moves would be about as far-fetched as the hockey coach at the University of Minnesota coming to San Diego to coach at United States International University.

So, what is former Minnesota Coach Brad Buetow doing in Balboa Park talking about how it’s not so bad to play home games in the Mira Mesa House of Ice?

On Thursday, USIU Athletic Director Dr. Al J. Palmiotto, announced that Buetow, 35, had signed a two-year contract at approximately $40,000 per year to coach the Gulls. USIU was 7-23-2 last season after going 4-31-2 the season before.

“I never would have imagined this a few years ago,” Buetow said.

When Buetow’s highly ranked Minnesota team lost to USIU in the 1980-81 season, he canceled trips for his players to Sea World and the beach.

College hockey teams play a lot of games, and lose a lot of games, but losing to USIU is not just another loss.

Buetow’s mark of 171-75-8 during his six years as head coach of the Gophers is the most successful record in Division 1 hockey over that period. A disciple of 1980 U.S. Olympic Coach Herb Brooks, Buetow has coached four All-Americans, 11 players who have played for the U.S. Olympic team and 23 who have played in the NHL.

Why would Buetow leave the mecca of collegiate hockey for a city that’s just minutes from Mexico?

“I like adversity,” Buetow said, “and this is a real challenge.”

It’s also a job.

Despite a strong movement for his reinstatement by many fans, Buetow’s contract was not renewed at Minnesota.

“The reasons still haven’t been given,” Buetow said. “I was told from day one that winning a national championship wouldn’t be one of the criteria I’d be judged on . . . It was frustrating, but that’s behind us.”

Buetow, the vice-president of the American Hockey Coaches Assn., turned down two head coaching jobs in minor league professional hockey, a head job at a college which he did not want to name, and two jobs in business.

“I felt USIU had a growing program that was starting to make a commitment to hockey,” Buetow said. “There are a lot of quality kids here, and I hope to untap some of the potential.”

Buetow, who advocates a lunch bucket style of aggressive hockey, spoke more of hopes than promises.

He did not promise a winning season, but he did say he was pleased with USIU’s Division 1 schedule. Buetow hopes to help finalize the plans for building an ice arena in San Diego, and plans to use his contacts in Minnesota and Canada to bring top recruits to USIU.

Buetow feels it’s important for USIU to get into a conference, and for the hockey players to become a part of the community.

“There are diehard closet hockey fans in San Diego,” he said. “I feel we can bring them out by displaying an exciting style of hockey.”

With that, he looked out the window, and said: “But I’ll admit it’s tough to think of hockey when it’s 85 degrees.”