Alaska-Fairbanks head coach Dave Laurion has announced his resignation, effective after his contract expires at the end of May.
Laurion joined UAF in 1985 as an assistant coach, serving under Ric Schafer until Schafer’s departure to become the head coach at Notre Dame in 1987. Laurion then served under Don Lucia for six more years before becoming the Nanooks’ third head hockey coach at the NCAA level in 1993, when Lucia left to become head coach at Colorado College.
In his six years behind the UAF bench, Laurion’s coaching record is 72-111-8. He led UAF to a school-record 24 wins in his first season, which was Fairbanks’ first season as an affiliate member of the CCHA and included a playoff victory at Miami.
UAF was 10-21-4 last year (7-20-3 CCHA, 10th). The Nanooks are currently 6-16-0 this season (5-15-0 CCHA, T-9th).
“For UAF to field a competitive hockey program in the CCHA is an extremely challenging job,” said Laurion. “I believe it is in the best interest of the UAF hockey program for a new coach to take the reins. I am proud of the young men that competed for the Nanooks in my six years. They have represented the university and community well as student-athletes on and off the ice.”
Athletic director Randy Pitney said, “Dave has been a close friend of mine since he arrived in Fairbanks 14 years ago. … Dave has put his heart and soul into the advancement of Nanook hockey and I know that it has been hard on him that we weren’t more successful. Dave is a dedicated individual, and I know he will do well in the future.”
Plans for recruitment of a new coach will be announced in the near future.
