Due to a terrible situation at hand, the head coach of the women’s hockey team wants to terminate his contract as a result.

Due to a terrible situation at hand, the head coach of the women’s hockey team wants to terminate his contract as a result.

John Harrington, the head coach of the Minnesota State women’s hockey team, stated that he will retire from the university on June 30 after the 2023–24 season. He will instead assume the position of Special Assistant to the Athletic Director. He led the team as its head coach for nine seasons.

Athletics Director Kevin Buisman said, “We are deeply indebted to Coach Harrington for his many years of outstanding and dedicated service to Maverick women’s hockey.” “John is a legendary personality in hockey who will always be associated with his performance on the 1980 Olympic gold medal squad, the “Miracle on Ice.” I think the experience encouraged him to give back to the sport. It is our good fortune that he was so devoted to spreading that enthusiasm to others. Though we will miss having him on the bench going forward, we hope John, Mary, and his family the very best during his retirement.”

“I am thankful for the opportunity given to me to coach the Women’s Hockey team at Minnesota State University for the past nine seasons,” Harrington stated. It was an honor for me to coach student-athletes who possessed extraordinary talent. Together with hockey talents, I hope kids were able to acquire life skills. Every year, I believe I learnt something fresh, unique, and helpful to me. In addition, I would want to express my gratitude to the student-athletes for their dedication to our program, the Athletic Department, my assistant coaches, and staff.

Harrington, the fourth head coach in Minnesota State women’s hockey history, concluded with an overall record of 85-198-25 and the second-most wins ever. Harrington coached three former Mavericks who are presently playing for Minnesota in the PWHL: Claire Butorac, Brooke Bryant, and Brittyn Fleming. During his tenure, he has also coached four All-WCHA picks, six All-WCHA rookies, one Olympian (Rebekah Kolstad, 2017–19), one WCHA Rookie of the Year (Jamie Nelson, 2020–21), and four other players.

Harrington led the Mavericks to a season-opening tie with eighth-ranked North Dakota after being hired as head coach in May 2015. Harrington’s Mavericks more than doubled the team’s win total in his second season, which included a triumph over Minnesota Duluth, which was rated third at the time.

The Mavericks upset Ohio State, which was rated No. 5, in the regular season and prevailed in an exhibition match against the South Korean national team in 2018.

The next season, Harrington’s team finished 9-19-7, 3-16-5 WCHA, marking the most wins in a season since the 2013–14 campaign, demonstrating the program’s sustained progress. For the first time in team history, the Mavericks also shut out three straight opponents, including the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes 3-0 in Mankato.

Harrington, in his fifth season in charge of the bench, guided the Mavericks to an 11-20-6 overall record and 4-16-4 WCHA while they defeated St. Cloud State on the road, their first victory over a WCHA opponent since 2014. At the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, Harrington also won his first game against Wisconsin, defeating the Badgers, who were ranked first at the time, 3-1.

The Mavericks’ pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season ended with a record of 7–12–1. After forcing No. 5 Minnesota Duluth into overtime in game three of the WCHA quarterfinals, Minnesota State finished 15-19-1 and 10-17-1 in the WCHA the next season. It was the first WCHA postseason victory for MSU in over seven years.