Brent Brekke Last College: Western Michigan '94 Position: Associate Head Coach Years at Miami: Three Seasons

Brekke at the 2010 Frozen Four

Brent Brekke completed his third season behind the Miami bench as an assistant coach in 2010-11, working primarily with the defensive unit, but it was his first as the RedHawks' associate head coach after being promoted following his second season in Oxford. Brekke, who now has 12 years of collegiate coaching experience under his belt, came to Miami in the summer of 2008 after spending the previous nine seasons as an assistant coach at Cornell University of the ECAC.

"Brent Brekke is a nationally proven hockey coach," Miami head coach Enrico Blasi said upon promoting Brekke to associate head coach. "His time spent at Cornell and his two years here at Miami have proved to myself and our athletic administration that he is very deserving of this promotion. Brent is ready to become a Division I head coach and we are very fortunate to have him continue with our program into the foreseeable future."

Brekke's impact in Oxford was felt immediately as he helped lead the RedHawks to the school's first ever appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four and the national championship game in his first season, while guiding Miami to a CCHA regular-season title and a second straight Frozen Four berth in his second season (2009-10). This past year, Brekke aided the `Hawks to their first ever Mason Cup for winning the CCHA Tournament with his defense serving as the backbone, allowing just six goals in four tournament games.

Throughout the 2010-2011 season, Brekke kept Miami as one of the top defensive teams in the nation after ranking first nationally a year ago. The RedHawks' penalty kill unit was second in the nation at 88.3 percent (181-for-205), including killing 31 straight penalties at one point from Feb. 4 to Feb. 26. The defense allowed an average of just 2.18 goals against per game, which ranked first in the CCHA and fourth nationally. In league play, Miami was tops on the penalty kill at 90.5 percent while ranking second in scoring defense, giving up 2.07 goals a game. Both of Miami's goalies, Connor Knapp and Cody Reichard, also ranked in the top eight nationally for goals against average while the duo, along with the RedHawk defense, combined for five shutouts, all in CCHA action.

During the 2009-10 season, Brekke helped Miami become the top defensive team in the country, as the RedHawks gave up just 1.95 goals per game, which led the NCAA, while both of Miami's goalies ranked in the top three nationally in goals-against average, including Reichard, who was first at 1.87. The team's 86.2 percent penalty kill was third in the CCHA and eighth nationally. Brekke also mentored Will Weber, who was named the CCHA's Best Defensive Defenseman, and defenseman Joe Hartman, who garnered All-CCHA Rookie Team honors. In his first year with the Red and White, Brekke was instrumental in getting the RedHawks to lead the CCHA with an 89.7 penalty-kill percentage, while finishing fourth in goals allowed per game (2.17).

During Brekke's time with Cornell, the team made four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including a trip to the Frozen Four in 2003, and compiled a 185-90-30 record. During the 2003 season, Brekke helped guide the Big Red to its first No. 1 national ranking in program history.

Prior to his stint with Cornell, Brekke spent two seasons with the Chicago Freeze of the United States Hockey League as an assistant coach and director of player personnel. Some of his coaching responsibilities included working with the defense and special teams. As the director of player personnel, he was responsible for recruiting and player development.

After a four-year playing career at Western Michigan University, Brekke graduated with a degree in marketing in 1994. He served as the team's assistant captain for the 1992-93 season, and during the 1993-94 season was the first player in the program's history to be unanimously named the team's captain by his teammates.

A ninth-round selection (188th overall) of the Quebec Nordiques in 1991, Brekke skated with the USA Hockey National Junior Team that placed fourth in the 1991 World Junior Hockey Championships. Once his time at Western Michigan was complete, Brekke went on to play for the Cornwall Aces, Quebec's American Hockey League affiliate, for the 1994-95 season. One season later, he went on to captain the Dayton Bombers of the East Coast Hockey League.

Brekke and his wife, Stacey, a former track and field athlete at Western Michigan, have a daughter, Bailee, and a son, Cody.