Marquette, Michigan – The Northern Michigan University hockey team is pleased to announce the hiring of NMU graduate Phil Fox as assistant coach beginning with the 2024-25 season.
“We are excited to have Phil, his wife Rich, and their two children Levi and Bode returning to Marquette,” said head coach Dave Shaiach. “Phil was on the last NMU hockey team to play in the NCAA Tournament, and his passion for the program and community will be valuable to our current players and future recruits. He understands the type of player that fits our program, which is critical to achieving the success we all strive for.”
For the past five seasons, Fox, a native of Stillwater, Minnesota, has served as general manager and head coach of the New Mexico Ice Wolves of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), the premier junior hockey league in the U.S. The Ice Wolves joined the NAHL as an expansion team for the 2019-20 season and Fox was named the first head coach in the team's history.
In his five seasons with the Ice Wolves, Fox compiled a record of 137 wins, 123 losses, 16 ties and 12 draws, recorded three consecutive seasons with 30 or more wins and reached the playoffs in two of those three seasons and was named the 2021-2022 NAHL Coach of the Year after leading the Ice Wolves to a franchise-record 38 wins during the regular season and a second-place finish in the South Division. Fox also served as head coach of the South Division team in the 2022 NAHL Top Prospect Tournament.
Prior to becoming a coach, Fox played professional hockey for four years with the Texas Brummers of the Central Hockey League (CHL). In his rookie season in 2011, he recorded 43 points (19 goals, 24 assists) in 59 games and earned himself a +11 rating. The following year, he played in 44 games and recorded 34 points (21 goals, 13 assists). The Brummers made the playoffs in 2012, with Fox recording three goals in nine postseason games. After a stint with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League, Fox returned to the CHL, where he played in 39 games and recorded 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) with the Allen Americans. The Americans won the Ray Miron President's Cup for the second consecutive year, becoming the third team in CHL history to win consecutive league championships.
Prior to playing professionally, Fox played four years with the Wildcats from 2007-2011, wearing the captain's “C” in 2011. Phil appeared in 155 games with the Green and Gold, scoring 40 goals and 25 assists for 65 points. During his four years at NMU, Fox helped the Wildcats to two consecutive third-place finishes in the CCHA Tournament (March 22, 2008, a 2-1 win over Notre Dame and March 21, 2009, a 2-0 win over Alaska State), a 2-1 loss to Michigan in the CCHA Finals, and an NCAA Tournament appearance (March 26, 2010, a 4-3 loss in double overtime to St. Cloud State).
