Mike Randolph, a state champion boys hockey coach and a member of the Coaching Hall of Fame, is taking time off from work after St. Thomas Academy chose not to renew his one-year contract for the 2024-25 season. There is.
“I plan on coaching somewhere next year,” Randolph said Thursday. “I’m willing to accept a head coaching job anywhere, whether it’s Single-A or Double-A.”
St. Thomas Academy moved to replace him Thursday, announcing the hiring of former University of Wisconsin player Mark Strobel.
Randolph, 72, completed his third season with the Cadets last season and tied Lorne Grosso for the most men's hockey wins in Minnesota history with 707. The Cadets had a chance to get him to 708 wins, but lost in Round 2 of Class 2A. In the final they defeated Cretin Durham Hall 3-1.
“Records mean nothing,” Randolph said. “I love going to the rink and making it a classroom where I not only teach the sport, but teach young people about life.”
Randolph called St. Thomas Academy's director of activities, Reed Hornung, “the best AD I've ever met” and called him April 30 for an in-person meeting to discuss Randolph's ouster. For example, Hornung drove to a coffee shop in the Duluth area on Sunday. Why “We're friends forever'' But Randolph said he believed Hornung was just a messenger.
“I don't know if he can do his job that well,” Randolph said. “That's because the school is run by a board and a principal, and the principal only puts his stamp on the board's decisions.”
Hornung cited what Randolph called “excuses,” including Randolph's lack of presence at Mendota Heights Private School. Although Randolph was permanently stationed in Duluth, he rented an apartment in Eagan, less than 10 minutes from the ice arena on the cadet campus. Hornung also noted that Randolph did not attend the end-of-season banquet due to a snowstorm in Duluth. Randolph sent his congratulations through his assistant coach.
“My only regret is not knowing beforehand what was actually going on,” Randolph said. “but [Hornung] Maybe I didn't know what was going on. ”
Rumors spread this week that Mr. Randolph was informed of behind-the-scenes conversations with his future successors, including Mr. Strobel.
“Coach has been given a pretty good roster. Only two seniors have actually played,” Randolph said.
After finishing his first season 13-13-1, Randolph compiled a 49-30-3 record with the Cadets. He coached Duluth East for 32 years before joining the Cadets, leading the Greyhounds to the state tournament 18 times and winning championships in 1995 and 1998. He left there in 2021, resigning due to what he called “parental pressure.” ” Randolph was inducted into the Minnesota High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018.
Randolph will become the associate head coach at St. Thomas Academy for the 2021-22 season, assisting head coach Trent Aigner for one season before being named his successor.
“When I started working here, there was incredible support,” Randolph said. “But after that first season, the honeymoon was over.”
Strobel, the Cadets' new coach, played at Hill-Murray College in high school, then went to Wisconsin and graduated in 1995. He is a former assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Omaha and the University of Colorado. He played in his USHL's Twin Cities where he also worked with the Vulcans.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Strobel to the St. Thomas Academy community,” said Brian Ragatz, president of the school. “He has a championship pedigree and next-level experience that will strengthen our hockey program and benefit our student-athletes, especially those with a desire to compete beyond high school. Sho.”
