Brian Idalski Named Women's Ice Hockey Head Coach

Brian Idalski, who brings 25 years of head coaching experience across NCAA Division I, the PWHL and international levels, has been appointed head coach of Syracuse ice hockey.

A proven winner with over 400 collegiate and professional victories and a winning percentage over 62-percent, Idalski is seen as one of the nation's top coaches, winning 2022-23 USCHO National Coach of the Year and numerous other accolades in his career. Known for his player development ability, Idalski has mentored 10 Olympians, 35 national team players, nine All-Americans, 20 U18 national team athletes, a Patty Kazmaier finalist, four Patty Kazmaier semifinalists, one conference player of the year and 42 all-conference selections.

"I am honored to join Syracuse University and the Orange family," Idalski said. "Thank you to the administration, specifically AD Bryan Blair and Jordie Kindervater for the opportunity to lead this program. I'm excited to work with our student-athletes and help them grow as players, leaders, and individuals.

"Syracuse Women's Hockey has tremendous potential, and I look forward to building strong relationships and a culture of accountability, development, and relentless competitiveness. Together, we will work to make the Orange a program everyone is proud of."

Idalski joins the Orange having spent this past season as the head coach of the PWHL's Vancouver Goldeneyes, helping build the expansion franchise and lead it through its inaugural season. He also has head coaching experience at North Dakota, St. Cloud State, UW-Stevens Point, the Olympics and the Zhenskaya Hockey League.

"Brian Idalski is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in the sport, and we are thrilled to welcome him, his wife Nicole and their boys to Syracuse," said Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair. "His track record speaks for itself — a proven program-builder who wins at every level, from the NCAA to the Olympics. Just as important, he has a track record of developing complete student-athletes who succeed in the classroom and beyond. This is an exciting moment for the future of Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey."

Idalski's last collegiate experience comes at St. Cloud State, where he led a historic turnaround. Inheriting a program that had only won 10-or-more games just twice in the prior 12 years, Idalski amassed three of the program's six-highest single-season win totals over his three-year stint with the program (2022-25). Idalski went 18-18-1 in his first season at the helm, a nine-win improvement from the year prior, and earned USCHO National Coach of the Year. His teams had a winning record in conference play in each of his three seasons as well.

Idalski also served as China's head coach for the Beijing Olympics in 2022. He guided the team to two Olympic victories and had the top penalty kill unit in the tournament (90-percent) and save percentage (Jiaying Zhou - .955).

His first professional stint came with the Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays (2020-22). Idalski guided the Rays to a 77-17 record, two regular season championships and the 2020 ZhHL Cup – becoming the first non-Russian team to win the league's championship. He was ZhHL Coach of the Year in both 2020 and 2022.

Idalski spent the 2018-19 season as the Director of Hockey Activities at Culver Academy, leading the program to its first USA Hockey Tier-I Nationals appearance.

He previously spent 10 seasons as the head coach at North Dakota (2007-17) – building the program into a perennial power. He produced a 169-154-39 record in his time in North Dakota, leading the program to two NCAA Tournament appearances, a pair of WCHA Tournament finals and reaching the semifinals seven times. He built sustained success in Grand Forks, winning 20+ games on five occasions and having a winning record over his last-seven seasons, going 144-89-25 across that span.

Earning his first head coaching role in 2001-02 with UW-Stevens Point, Idalski quickly established himself as a rising star by going 108-21-11 (.881) in five seasons leading the Pointers. He was named NCHA Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2005 while being named a Finalist for the AHCA National Coach of the Year award four times, guiding UW-Stevens Point to four NCHA Tournament Championships and three NCHA Regular Season Championships. The Pointers made three NCAA Tournament appearances under Idalski, appearing in the 2004 NCAA DIII National Championship game and taking third at the 2006 NCAA DIII Tournament.
 
First joining the collegiate coaching ranks as an assistant with UW-Stevens Point Men's Hockey in 2000-01, Idalski broke into the coaching world in 1999-00 as an assistant on the Columbus Cottonmouths' bench in the Central Hockey League.

Idalski's programs have also performed exceptionally in the classroom as well. Under his leadership, 12 student-athletes have earned Academic All-America distinction and 140 have been named to the conference All-Academic team.
 
Idalski enjoyed a long playing career as a defenseman, spending two seasons with Columbus in the CHL and two with the Madison Monsters in the United Hockey League. He helped Columbus earn the 1998 CHL Regular Season and Postseason Championships. He played his collegiate hockey at UW-Stevens Point, appearing in 97 games and leading the Pointers to a pair of NCAA Tournament Finals including the program's 1993 NCAA DIII National Championship.
 
A native of Warren, Michigan, Brian and his wife Nicole have four sons – Beau, Jason, David and Mitchel.

Syracuse University Athletics

Brian Idalski Named Women's Ice Hockey Head Coach

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