MInnesota Native Pat Ferschweiler guides Western Michigan to Frozen Four Championship Game

Pat Ferschweiler, born on February 20, 1970, in Rochester, Minnesota, is the current head coach of the Western Michigan University (WMU) men’s ice hockey team. His journey in hockey spans from being a collegiate player to a professional athlete, and eventually transitioning into coaching roles at both collegiate and professional levels.Wikipedia

Collegiate Playing Career: Ferschweiler played for WMU from 1990 to 1993, where he appeared in 116 games, tallying 30 goals and 65 assists, totaling 95 points. He graduated in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. Team USA HockeyWikipedia

Professional Playing Career: After college, Ferschweiler embarked on an eight-year professional playing career. He played in various leagues, including the ECHL and IHL, accumulating 46 goals and 113 assists for a total of 159 points over 355 games. Team USA Hockey

Coaching Career:

Early Coaching Roles: Ferschweiler began his coaching career in 2004 as the general manager and head coach of the Russell Stover Under-18 team in the Midwest Elite Hockey League. He also served as the director of hockey for the Kansas City Stars youth organization from 2005 to 2009. Wikipedia
Western Michigan University (2010–2014): In 2010, Ferschweiler returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach under head coach Jeff Blashill. He was later promoted to associate head coach under Andy Murray. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2Western Michigan University Athletics+2
Detroit Red Wings (2015–2019): Ferschweiler joined the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings as an assistant coach in 2015, reuniting with Blashill. Wikipedia
Return to WMU (2019–Present): He returned to WMU in 2019 as an associate head coach and was promoted to head coach on August 3, 2021. Wikipedia+1Western Michigan University Athletics+1

International Coaching Experience: Ferschweiler has also contributed to USA Hockey, serving as head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Team at the Five Nations Tournament in 2017, leading them to a gold medal. He was an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 Team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2018 and head coach for the same tournament in 2019. Additionally, he served as an assistant coach for the U.S. team at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, earning a bronze medal. Western Michigan University Athletics+1Wikipedia+1

Recent Achievements: Under Ferschweiler’s leadership, the WMU Broncos achieved significant milestones:Team USA Hockey

In the 2024–25 season, the team secured its first national No. 1 ranking and made its inaugural appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four. Big Rapids Pioneer
Ferschweiler was named the NCHC Herb Brooks Coach of the Year for the 2022–23 and 2024–25 seasons. Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1