Berenson's last year (!)

Don't be ridiculous. It'll be Mel Pearson in all likely hood.

I don't think it's an April Fools' joke. The original post that the link goes to was posted on 3/29. Also, I hate Enrico Blasi. I would rather put Tom Izzo on our bench than Blasi. Don't even think about that. now for the part I commented on the last one: I really, really don't want to see him go. I wish he could coach another 20 years. I just can't imagine a different coach, it's just not Michigan Hockey to me. Real question: Will this affect us in a bad way? Like in football, where a new coach means a rebuilding period? and where recruits won't come here as likely because of a new coach or a rumored retirement? I have no idea who would take the job... or who we could get that would be able to keep the tradition as a Michigan Man and as a good hockey coach. My picks/suggestions (not real this time): Mike Babcock (friend of Red's, coach of some other, probably less important team) Chris Summers (forget Phoenix...) Chris Brown (player-coach anyone?) JMFJ (real middle finger to the Kings' GM and his shot at Jack and UM coaching) Brian (or whoever writes/runs YostBuilt) Me (credentials: played hockey, coached one youth spring team with 7-3 record)

I think more willingness to play walk-ons should be integral to a new coach, especially after Hunwick the Great.

Its not an officially designated thing like they had with Tiller or Bowden, but its 99.9% certain he will be our next coach. The real question is who will eventually replace him. As far as its effect on recruiting and what not, I would call it negligible at best. Mel has been an assistant for something like 19 years and should be able to pick up right where Red leaves off. Plus, its not like Red is going to be going very far. Much like Bo and Lloyd, I expect he will be around. That being said, I really do wish Red would stick around for a bunch more years. About the only thing he doesn't have on Ron Mason is the all-time win crown, and that's only because Mason went straight to coaching college hockey, unlike Red who had an NHL playing and coaching career before hand. That would take I think at least another 7 years to accomplish though, so whether he came back in 2011-12 or not, unless he's prepared to coach until he's 90, I don't think that's happening.

I feel like we've been playing with house money re: Red's retirement for about the last 5 years. I never would have thought he'd coach until 2011.

The only two coaches that should even be considered are Mel Pearson or Billy Powers! And I think that is what will happen it will be either but probably Mel. Oh and I would hate it if Blasi came in. He is a huge douche and I have had that opinion well before the events of last Sunday.

If this is Red's last year it is only to sacrifice himself like Obi-wan-Kenobi and come back in a more powerful form.

Barry Melrose might be looking to pick up an old career again.

His skin is falling off his face. Red deserves some good years to relax and enjoy the fruits of his accomplishments. I hope next year's tournament turns into Red's personal victory lap and sends him off in a manner befitting what he has done for Michigan.

Other than the fact that Red retiring after this coming season has been assumed for at least the last year. It's a very open secret that Red's wanted to coach a game at the Big House for a long time and that he wasn't going to be around for all that much longer, so as soon as rumors started swirling about a game at Michigan Stadium, the thought was that Red was gone after it. I actually think that if we had won the NC this season, he would have retired, but obviously some ECAC ref REALLY wanted Red to come back and coach us :-) Agree: -Mel is our next coach. Even an "open search" should be open in name only to make us look good, it would be a travesty if he didn't get it. Maybe a Mike Babcock could be considered, but other than that, it's Mel. Done deal. Red wants it to be Mel, Mel wants to do it, there is no reason it should not be Mel. -The only people I've ever encountered who think Rico is a good person, and not just a good coach (which he is, obviously) are Miami fans. One thing for people to think about: A lot of college hockey programs nowadays (including Miami and State is starting to)) are recruiting a little differently than "normal" and a way that can really only be done in hockey. Instead of taking players directly out of high school, they recruit people that played in juniors for a couple more years. Check their rosters. Cody Reichard, the CCHA POY is a 23 year old sophomore. Our senior captain, Chris Summers, is 22, for comparison. Miami has MULTIPLE juniors born in 1986 and so on down the line where they have "old" players that still had 4 years of eligibility left when they entered college, which obviously gives them a pretty big advantage, in some ways. It also helps with retaining players as many of them don't have much of a shot at the NHL and are just looking for the scholarship and degree. They're good, but at their age, they should be and they're not all that, or they would be in a higher level already. In contrast, we recruit mostly high-skilled players that are "normally" aged and require more development, skillwise, mentally and physically. We have a few "old" players (Langlais, Glendening, Hunwick, Ciraulo, Elmblad and maybe a few more) but 4 of those are walk-ons and only 2 played the whole year.

it's reportedly because of a lack of a family atmosphere among all the sports coaches