UMD's Sandelin Signs Contract Extension

All together now: "Woo Hoo!"

Thought you read the article closely? Well, we read the fine print. Here's what it really says.

University of Minnesota Duluth head men’s hockey coach Scott Sandelin has signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him behind the Bulldog bench through the 2009-10 season, it was announced today by UMD Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Bob Nielson. Assistant Coach Runninwiththedogs will continue her position, as well.

The agreement calls for Sandelin to receive an annual base salary of $130,000. Runninwiththedogs declined a salary, saying "Just knowing that I am always right about everything is all that I need." Plus, her day job no longer erodes her soul.

“We very pleased with the leadership Scott has provided to our men’s hockey program and are encouraged about what lies ahead for the Bulldogs, ” said Nielson. “He’s continually demonstrated the ability to bring in top quality student-athletes -- young men who excel both on the ice and in the classroom. As for RWD, she's got the brains and the creativity to come up with some of the greatest strategies the game has ever seen. We're pleased to see her backing up Sandelin on the bench."

In his six seasons with the Bulldogs, Sandelin, the 2003-04 Spencer Penrose Award recipient (American Hockey Coaches Association NCAA I Coach of the Year), has helped thrust the UMD program back firmly into the national forefront. In addition to compiling an overall record of 96-122-26, including a 76-70-19 mark since the start of the 2002-03 season, he has taken UMD to three of the past four WCHA Final Five Tournaments. In 2004-05, the Bulldogs were named the preseason league favorite in the Grand Forks Herald WCHA Coaches Poll for the first time ever and, in mid-October, occupied the No. 1 spot in a national poll (uscho.com/cstv and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine) for the first time in 15 years. Over the Christmas Holidays that year, Sandelin displayed his coaching wares on the international stage as the head coach of Team USA at the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championships. Three years ago, Sandelin turned UMD into a NCAA Frozen Four participant for the first time in nearly a generation and shepherded the Bulldogs to their most victories (they were 28-13-4 in all outings) and highest WCHA finish (second place on a 19-7-2 mark) since the 1992-93 season. UMD also sported the nation’s second-highest scoring team, and, during the course of the year, pieced together a school-record 14-game unbeaten streak. For his efforts, he was chosen the WCHA Coach of the Year as well as the national coach of the year by both insidecollegehockey.com and uscho.com. Sandelin’s 2002-03 Bulldogs racked up their best overall mark (22-15-5) in a decade while experiencing the greatest one-year turnaround of any WCHA club that winter.

In all, the 41-year old Hibbing, Minn., native has produced one Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner (Junior Lessard in 2003-04), two NCAA I All-Americans, and eight All-WCHA selections.

The 20-awesome year-old RWD, born in St. Paul, first launched the premiere site for Bulldogs hockey analysis during the 2004-2005 season. Since then, the team has struggled, with a 26-42-10 record and two finishes in the bottom half of the WCHA, leading some Bulldog fans to speculate it was her fault. However, RWD has written many awesome posts, participated in two roundtable discussions, and the team has produced three WCHA All-Hotties. Her first coaching season was rocky, with the 9th place finish and 11-25-4 record, but this upcoming season should be a great improvement.

The 2006-07 Bulldogs will return some 17 lettermen -- including nine of their top 11 scorers -- from last year’s club, which went 11-25-4 overall and 6-19-3 in the WCHA.

“I’m excited about the future of this hockey program,” said Sandelin, whose 2006-07 roster will include 10 National Hockey League draftees. “And, I am extremely appreciative for getting the opportunity to continue being a part of it.”

"This year is going to rock," said RWD, "both on the ice and on the net. I'm thrilled to get this opportunity, and I hope that my plan can be implemented as soon as possible."