Wisconsin-Superior athletic director and men’s hockey coach, Steve Nelson, announced his resignation from both positions today. Nelson has accepted a position as commissioner of the America West Hockey League, a junior league based in Montana.
Both of Nelson’s positions will be filled on an interim basis for the coming school year. Taking over behind the bench for the 2000-2001 season will be assistant coach Dan Stauber, a UW-Superior alumnus and a player on Nelson’s first Yellowjacket team.
“Today I am both sad and excited,” Nelson said. “I believe no other university would have given me the tremendous opportunity to grow, and such flexibility to build a team and my coaching career,” Nelson said.
In 14 seasons as head coach of the Yellowjackets, Nelson amassed a 249-168-21 record. His teams made seven trips to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four, including a second place finish in 1999 and fourth place last season. Nelson was named NCHA or Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coach of the year six times, and was an AHCA Coach of the Year finalist four times.
Nelson played his college hockey at St. Lawrence, where he was team rookie of the year in 1978, and graduated from Minnesota in 1982. He will start his new position on Sept. 12.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education, Stauber played professionally in Sweden, and coached high school hockey in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
