Gophers announce Bob Motzko as new men's hockey head coach

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Bob Motzko was introduced as the Gopher’s head coach Thursday, marking the beginning of a new era for the Gophers Men’s Hockey Team. 

After 13 years as the head coach at St. Cloud State, Motzko will return to a program he’s quite familiar with after serving as an assistant under former head coach Don Lucia early in his career. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave St. Cloud, but he said coaching the Gophers was an opportunity too good to pass up. 

“As difficult as it was for us to leave, and it was because of the relationships and we put our heart and soul into St. Cloud State, I’m forever grateful,” Motzko said. “This is the only place I would leave to.” 

Motzko has replaced his friend and colleague Lucia, who stepped down as the Gophers' head coach after 19 years. Last year, as the head coach of the Huskies, Motzko oversaw the top ranked program in the country and he hopes to bring the Gophers back to the top. 

“The history and tradition here speaks volumes," he said. "So when you take this job you know very well where this program needs to be and we have to work our tails off to get there.”

Motzko signed a five year contract with the program. He hasn’t finalized the rest of his coaching staff at Minnesota, but he is eager to get to work and hopefully bring the Gophers back to the Frozen Four.