Granato named a finalist for Spencer Penrose Award for national coach of the year
Badgers’ head coach receives recognition for the accomplished season
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin men’s hockey head coach Tony Granato was named a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award given to the top coach in Division I college hockey by the American College Hockey Association and CCM, it was announced on Tuesday, March 30.
After receiving Big Ten Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his five seasons, Granato is now one of 10 nominees for the national award recognizing coaches who found on-ice success in the 2020-21 hockey season.
Granato led a worst-to-first turnaround and the Badgers to a Big Ten regular-season championship and a 20-10-1 record, their best mark since the 2013-14 campaign. The Badgers overcame injuries, players out due to COVID protocols and key players out due to the world junior championship, but were able to reach as high as a No. 4 national ranking and a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament.
This season marks Granato’s fifth year as Badgers’ head coach and first NCAA tournament appearance as a player or a coach. He has an all-time record of 82-82-13 at the helm of the Badgers’ coaching staff.
Brad Berry (North Dakota), Greg Carvel (UMass), Mike Hastings (Minnesota State), Brett Larson (St. Cloud State), Rand Pecknold (Quinnipiac), Brian Riley (Army West Point), Scott Sandelin (Minnesota-Duluth), Derek Schooley (Robert Morris), and Jerry York, (Boston College) round out the list of finalists.
The winner will be announced on April 6.
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