MARQUETTE, Mich. (WJMN) – Grant Potulny has stepped down as head coach of the Northern Michigan University (NMU) hockey program. According to an announcement released by NMU’s athletic department on Tuesday morning, Potulny will be leaving the program to pursue a position at the professional hockey level.
Athletic director Rick Comrie will serve as interim head coach until a national search for a permanent head coach begins.
According to the announcement, associate head coach Byron Poole and assistant coach Nick Peruzzi have both accepted coaching positions outside of NMU.
“Grant is an extremely accomplished hockey coach and the professional teams recognize that,” Comrie said. “On behalf of Northern, I would like to thank Grant and his staff for the great job they've done with the Wildcat hockey program and wish them great success with their new team.”
NMU President Brock Tessman added, “Like Rick, I would like to thank Grant for his seven seasons at Northern. I also want to thank Byron and Nick. Men's ice hockey is NMU's premier athletic program and the only one at the NCAA Division I level, so we are incredibly fortunate to have one of the greatest coaches of all time behind an NCAA Division I hockey bench to help guide our current players and freshmen during this transition period and work on planning for next season's preparations while we complete our national recruiting this summer. Thank you, Rick. Wildcat hockey is in great hands until a new coach is selected.”
Potulny's time with the Willcats concluded last season with an overall record of 12 wins, 16 losses and 6 ties, and a conference record of 10 wins, 10 losses and 4 ties. Under his direction, NMU advanced to the 2020-2021 WCHA and 2022-2023 CCHA Conference Championship Games.
Potulny's record with the program is 128-113-17 ties overall and 95-69-11 ties in conference play.
A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday morning with Rick Comrie and university president Dr. Brock Tessman, and Local 3 News will provide updates as the situation develops.
