Bowling Green State University hockey coach Chris Bergeron is leaving the program to be the sixth head
coach in Miami hockey history.
"On behalf of my family and myself, I want to say a very sincere ‘thank you’ for the last nine
years," Bergeron said in a statement released by BGSU.
"Your unconditional support from our early rebuilding years to the turnout last Saturday in
Allentown has meant more to me than you will ever know. The last few days have been very difficult for
me because President (Rodney) Rogers, Bob Moosbrugger and Jim Elsasser stepped up and showed their
commitment to Falcon hockey. Having to choose between two places that I love dearly has been the
toughest decision I have ever had to make. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this program that
means so much to all of you. We are extremely proud that we are leaving the program better than we found
it."
In nine years at Bowling Green, Bergeron went 171-154-4. The Falcons advanced to the NCAA Tournament for
the first time in 29 years, dropping a 2-1 overtime decision to defending national champion Minnesota
Duluth.
"As someone who returned to their alma mater, I understand the attraction to return to a place that
you consider home," BGSU Director of Athletics Bob Moosbrugger said. "We are thankful for the
nine years of leadership in our hockey program from Chris Bergeron. In the same way that he asks his
players to leave the program better than they found it, he has done the same at Bowling Green. This is a
great job and we have already begun the national search to find the individual who will continue to
elevate our program."
Bergeron, a 1993 Miami graduate who played on the school’s first conference championship team and NCAA
Tournament qualifier that same year, has been the head coach at former Central Collegiate Hockey
Association rival Bowling Green for the past nine seasons. Under his guidance, the Falcons have gone
171-154-44 in his tenure.
Miami University Director of Athletics David Sayler made the announcement this morning.
“I would like to thank President Crawford, David Sayler and Steve Cady for all of their support through
this process and for the opportunity to be a part of Miami Hockey again,” Bergeron said in a press
release issued by Miami. “Janis, our boys and I are extremely excited to be returning to Oxford. Miami
University holds a special place in all of our hearts. We are looking forward to starting this next
journey in our lives.”
Bergeron took Bowling Green to two Western Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament finals in his last
three years, taking the eventual champion to overtime in both occurrences. This past season, the Falcons
broke a 29-year drought of missing the NCAA Tournament when they secured an at-large bid to the field of
16 thanks to a 25-11-5 season, a record that represented the program’s most victories since 1994-95 and
its first postseason berth since 1989-90.
Bowling Green won a mere five games the year before he arrived on the bench and had not enjoyed a winning
record since the 1996-97 campaign, but that changed in 2013-14 when the Falcons went 18-15-6 in
Bergeron’s fourth season. The Falcons then took a jump from there, posting 20 or more victories in
five-straight seasons, going a collective 114-66-24 in that span.
“We are excited to welcome Chris, along with his wife Janis, and his two sons, Logan and Connor, back to
Miami University and the Oxford community,” said Sayler. “As a successful student-athlete, captain and
assistant coach here at Miami, it is evident that Coach Bergeron has played an integral role in the past
success of this program. I look forward to working with him as we focus all our efforts on becoming more
competitive within the NCHC and on the national level.”
Prior to taking the Bowling Green job, Bergeron played a crucial part in Miami’s rise to prominence. His
recruiting chops and influence on the bench helped the RedHawks go 226-139-37 (.608 winning percentage)
in his 10 seasons as an assistant coach. MU went to the NCAA Tournament six times, advanced to the first
two Frozen Fours in school history in 2009 and 2010, appearing in the 2009 National Title Game. During
that stretch, MU won two conference titles (2005-06 and 2009-10), set a school record with 33 victories
in 2007-08, earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament twice (2008 and 2010) and was the top overall
seed in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
Individually, Bergeron helped coach nine players who went on to earn All-American honors, including 2011
Hobey Baker winner Andy Miele, who became the first Miami player to win the award that season.
Additionally, Bergeron coached 17 RedHawks who went on to play in the NHL during his tenure.
Bergeron played at Miami from 1989-93 and was a two-year team captain. As a senior, Bergeron scored a
team-high 61 points on 21 goals and 40 assists. Along with his offensive achievements that year, the
four-year letterwinner was named the CCHA’s Best Defensive Forward as well as Miami’s Most Outstanding
Senior.
He then spent seven years playing professionally before returning to Miami as an assistant coach. During
that time, he played with the Adirondack Red Wings (AHL), the Birmingham Bulls (ECHL), the Toledo Storm
(ECHL), the Cincinnati Cyclones (IHL) and the Columbus Cottonmouths (CHL), being named a league all-star
four times. He also has coaching experience at the professional level, having served as a
player/assistant coach with the Port Huron Bordercats of the United Hockey League for two seasons.
Bergeron earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Miami. He will be formally introduced at a press
conference at 1:30 p.m. on Monday in the club lounge at Goggin Ice Center. The conference will be
streamed live on MiamiRedHawks.com.