Headline: U hockey assistant takes over at Miami
Publish Date: 06/27/1994
David Jackson
<W0I>Staff Reporter
 
Gopher hockey assistant coach Mark Mazzoleni was named the new head
coach at Miami (Ohio) University on Friday.
 
Mazzoleni, who signed a four-year contract with the Redskins,
replaces George Gwozdecky, who resigned to become the new head coach
at the University of Denver.
 
Before coming to Minnesota in 1991, the 38-year-old Mazzoleni led the
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to three national championships
at the Division III level. The Pointers were 140-52-10 in his six
years of direction.
 
The move is a return to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association for
Mazzoleni, who played his college hockey at Michigan State and was
also an assistant coach at Illinois-Chicago from 1981 to 1985.
 
``I'm thrilled to be returning to the CCHA and being involved with a
league that has such a great tradition in the sport of ice hockey,''
Mazzoleni said. ``I'm equally thrilled to be associated with so many
of the fine coaches of the CCHA.''
 
Meanwhile, the Gophers are now searching for an assistant coach and
recruiting coordinator, the jobs Mazzoleni filled for the last three
seasons.
 
``We are happy for Mark to get this opportunity,'' Gopher coach Doug
Woog said in a statement released by the University. ``This was
definitely a stated goal of his and he will bring a lot of fire and
enthusiasm to their program.''
 
Woog was in Lake Placid, N.Y., and was not available for direct
comment.
 
Mazzoleni was one of three finalists for the head coaching job at the
University of North Dakota before the Sioux hired International Falls
High School coach Dean Blais.
 
In addition to Mazzoleni, the Gophers recently lost administrative
assistant John Hamre, who was hired by Princeton University as a
part-time assistant coach.
 
Hamre was a member of Woog's staff for the last six years. He
assisted the junior varsity program and was the team's video
coordinator.
 
``We have certainly benefitted from the efforts of John over the past
six years,'' Woog said. ``He will have a great opportunity and a
chance to start his career in coaching at a terrific institution.''
end quoted material.
 
We'll really miss ya, Mazz!!
 
-Carol
 
Carol S. White                            BITNET: c-whit@uminn1
University of Minnesota        internet:[log in to unmask]
Office of the Registrar
(612) 625-8517                                    GO Gophers!!!