Jason Huerter was named associate head coach by Pat Ferschweiler on Aug. 19, 2022, joining the Broncos after nine seasons spent building Minnesota Duluth into a national powerhouse.
During his time at Western Michigan, Harter led a strong defense that included two-time All-American Ronnie Attard and Academic All-American Aidan Fulp, and six defensemen have signed to play professionally in the past three seasons.
Harter has helped WMU win 70 games and make three NCAA Tournament appearances, while also overseeing three players earn All-American honors and the Broncos have had eight All-NCHC selections over the past three seasons.
During the 2023-24 season, Harter led the Broncos to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the first time this has ever been accomplished in team history. In addition, WMU won 20 or more games for the third consecutive year and posted an undefeated non-conference record. Thanks to Harter's guidance, Carter Burger, Zach Galambos and Cedric Fiedler all signed professional contracts following the season.
In the 2022-23 season, he helped the Broncos finish with their best NCHC record in program history (2nd place), winning 23 games and again appearing in the NCAA Tournament. This led to Fulp being named a finalist for the NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year award and Galambos being named a finalist for the Offensive Defenseman of the Year award. Fulp signed with the New York Islanders following the season.
In his first season of his tenure (2021-22), the Broncos won 26 games and were a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their most wins in a season since the 1995-96 season. The team defeated Northeastern, 2-1, in overtime to earn the program's first NCAA Tournament win in program history.
During that season, Harter oversaw the development of Attard and Michael Joieaux, who both earned All-Conference honors after the season. Attard was named a First Team All-American and won the NCHC Offensive Defensive Man of the Year award. Attard and Joieaux signed professional contracts after the season.
During his time at Duluth, he served as assistant and associate head coach and helped the Bulldogs win national championships in 2018 and 2019. During his time at UMD, the team made five NCAA Tournament appearances and won the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Frozen Faceoff in 2017 and 2019. Harter coached Hobey Baker Award winner Jack Connolly in 2012.
Harter also served as an assistant coach with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League, later serving as head coach and general manager before joining Minnesota Duluth. The Saskatchewan native began his coaching career with Russell Stover as general manager and head coach of the 16U AAA program alongside Ferschweiler.
A graduate of the University of North Dakota, Huerter played as a defenseman from 1988 to 1991, appearing in 118 games and recording 30 goals, 89 assists and 119 points in just three seasons. He was selected eighth overall in the first round of the 1989 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. Huerter had a lengthy professional career in the IHL, spending two seasons with the Kalamazoo Wings. He made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders during the 1995-1996 season. He finished his professional career by playing four years in Germany, spending the final three seasons with the Munich Barons.
Harter holds a Master's in Entrepreneurship from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is survived by his wife, Laura, and their two children, Jordyn and Jacob.
