Bill Wilkinson (ice hockey)

Last updated
Biographical details
Born (1947-04-22) April 22, 1947 (age 74)
Goderich, ONT, CAN
Alma mater St. Lawrence University
Playing career
1967–1970 St. Lawrence
Position(s) Forward
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1971–1978 St. Lawrence(assistant)
1978–1979 North Dakota (assistant)
1979–1982 Bowling Green (assistant)
1982–1999 Western Michigan
1999–2008 Wayne State
2008–2011 CH Jaca
2011–2012 Melbourne Mustangs
Head coaching record
Overall437–469–81 (.484)
Tournaments0–5 (.000)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1986 CCHA Tournament Champion
2001 CHA Tournament Champion
2002 CHA Champion
2002 CHA Tournament Champion
2003 CHA Tournament Champion
Awards
1984 CCHA Coach of the Year
1986 CCHA Coach of the Year
1996 CCHA Coach of the Year
2002 CHA Coach of the Year

William Wilkinson (born April 22, 1947) is a retired Canadian ice hockey coach. He coached the Wayne State Warriors men's ice hockey program for its entire 9-year existence at the Division I level. Prior to that, Wilkinson coach the Western Michigan for seventeen seasons.

Contents

Career

Wilkinson played for St. Lawrence for three years, leading the team in scoring as a sophomore and serving as the team captain in his senior season. After graduating in 1970 Wilkinson taught high school for a year before returning to Canton as an assistant coach for his alma mater. [1]

Wilkinson served as an assistant for St. Lawrence for seven years, leaving to accept a similar position at North Dakota for one season. He spent a further three seasons as an assistant at Bowling Green under Jerry York before getting his first head coaching job at Western Michigan. [2] After a poor showing in his first year the Broncos produced their first 20+ win season at the D-I level, earning Wilkinson the CCHA Coach of the Year. Two years later Wilkinson got the Broncos to surprising 32-win season, the program's only 30-win season (as of 2018), [3] won the CCHA Tournament and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time. The team declined to a mediocre level for much of the next seven years before finally returning to the NCAA tournament in 1994. The Broncos made another trip to the playoffs two years later but remained winless in NCAA postseason play under Wilkinson.

During the 1998–99 season two of Wilkinson's players were arrested at a team party in a building that Wilkinson owned. [4] An internal investigation was started and the entire team was subsequently suspended for violations of NCAA regulations. Wilkinson was eventually fired as head coach on February 3 but allowed to remain at the university as a special assistant to the AD. Once the season was over Wilkinson formally left and later took over as head coach for the newly-created program at Wayne State. [5] The Warriors played as an independent for one season before joining the CHA. Wayne State produced a modest record their first season in conference but won both of their games in the CHA Tournament to earn Wilkinson his second conference championship. The Warriors followed that up by winning 20 games the next year, winning the CHA regular season title and claiming their second consecutive championship. With all of that team success Wilkinson was awarded with the CHA Coach of the Year. In 2003, with the NCAA tournament expanding to 16 teams, the CHA was to receive its first automatic bid and the two-time champions didn't disappoint, winning 20 games once more and claiming their third consecutive tournament championship. In the tournament Wayne State was set against the #2 overall seed Colorado College and, despite a valiant effort, could not overcome three power play goals from the Tigers. [6]

After their three year run the Warriors declined sharply and never produced another winning record. [7] In 2007 the university announced it was shuttering the men's team, citing a $500K annual operating cost coupled with no on-campus rink and a troubled economy. [5]

Wilkinson continued to coach after Wayne State shut down, spending three seasons with CH Jaca and then a six-month stint with the Melbourne Mustangs before retiring.

Career statistics

  Regular season
SeasonTeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM
1967–68 St. Lawrence Saints NCAA24152136–
1968–69 St. Lawrence SaintsNCAA–––––
1969–70 St. Lawrence SaintsNCAA–––––
NCAA totals75306696–

Head Coaching Record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Western Michigan Broncos (CCHA)(1982–1999)
1982–83 Western Michigan11–23–210–20–2t-9th
1983–84 Western Michigan22–18–213–14–15th CCHA Runner-Up
1984–85 Western Michigan22–16–218–13–13rd CCHA Quarterfinals
1985–86 Western Michigan32–12–023–9–0T–2nd NCAA Quarterfinals
1986–87 Western Michigan23–20–016–16–05th CCHA Consolation Game (Loss)
1987–88 Western Michigan22–17–317–12–34th CCHA Consolation Game (Loss)
1988–89 Western Michigan14–23–69–17–66th CCHA Quarterfinals
1989–90 Western Michigan14–24–212–18–2T–5th CCHA Quarterfinals
1990–91 Western Michigan22–17–316–14–24th CCHA Consolation Game (Win)
1991–92 Western Michigan16–14–614–12–64th CCHA Quarterfinals
1992–93 Western Michigan20–16–217–11–25th CCHA First Round
1993–94 Western Michigan24–13–318–10–24th NCAA East Regional Quarterfinals
1994–95 Western Michigan17–18–59–14–4T–6th CCHA Quarterfinals
1995–96 Western Michigan27–11–321–6–3T-3rd NCAA East Regional Quarterfinals
1996–97 Western Michigan14–18–510–12–5T–5th CCHA Quarterfinals
1997–98 Western Michigan10–25–39–19–29th
1998–99 Western Michigan3–16–6†2–13–6†
Western Michigan:313–301–53234–230–47
Wayne State Warriors (Independent)(1999–2000)
1999–00 Wayne State12–16–2
Wayne State:12–16–2
Wayne State Warriors(CHA)(2000–2008)
2000–01 Wayne State18–14–38–9–33rd CHA Champion
2001–02 Wayne State21–11–415–2–31st CHA Champion
2002–03 Wayne State21–17–211–7–2T–3rd NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinal
2003–04 Wayne State9–24–35–15–16th CHA Semifinals
2004–05 Wayne State14–17–47–9–44th CHA Quarterfinals
2005–06 Wayne State6–23–63–12–56th CHA Quarterfinals
2006–07 Wayne State12–21–28–10–24th CHA Quarterfinals
2007–08 Wayne State11–25–26–14–04th CHA Semifinals
Wayne State:112–152–2663–78–20
Total:437–469–81

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

† Wilkinson was fired in the midst of an internal investigation into team activities.

See also

Related Research Articles

College Hockey America

College Hockey America (CHA) is a women's college ice hockey conference in the United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. The conference is made up of six teams, with three in Pennsylvania; two in New York, and one in Missouri.

Andy Murray (ice hockey)

Andy Murray is the former head coach for the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team of the NCAA Division I National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). He is a former head coach of the Los Angeles Kings and the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League.

Ronald Herbert Mason was a Canadian ice hockey player, head coach, and university executive. A head coach of various American universities, most notably Michigan State University (MSU), he was the most successful coach in NCAA ice hockey history between 1993 and 2012 with 924 wins, until Jerry York become the new winningest coach with his 925th career win on December 29, 2012. Mason was athletic director at MSU from 2002 to 2008. He then served as senior advisor for the USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks. On December 2, 2013, Mason was inducted into the U.S Hockey Hall of Fame.

Rick Comley is a former collegiate ice hockey player and former head coach at Michigan State University. He finished his 38-year coaching career with a 783–615–110 (.556) record. In 2007, he became the third coach in NCAA history to win a national championship at two different schools.

Bowling Green Falcons mens ice hockey Ice hockey team

The Bowling Green Falcons ice hockey team is the ice hockey team that represents Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school's team competes in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. The Falcons last played in the NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament in 2019. The Falcons have won one NCAA Division I championship, coming in 1984, defeating the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in the longest championship game in the tournament's history.

2008–09 NCAA Division I mens ice hockey season

The 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 10, 2008 and concluded with the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 11, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Over the course of the season, five teams achieved the nation's #1 ranking, with Boston University finishing the season as the top-ranked team after winning the national championship tournament. This was the 62nd season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 114th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.

Derek Schooley is an American ice hockey head coach and former player. He was formerly the head coach for Robert Morris, a position he has held from 2004 until the program's disbandment in 2021.

Miami RedHawks mens ice hockey

The Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio. The RedHawks are a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), starting play in the conference in the conference's 2013–14 inaugural season. Prior to the NCHC, from 1980 to 2013, the RedHawks were a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). They play in Steve Cady Arena at the Goggin Ice Center.

Western Michigan Broncos mens ice hockey

The Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Western Michigan University. The Broncos are a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). They play at Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States.

Omaha Mavericks mens ice hockey

The Omaha Mavericks Men's Ice Hockey team, also called the Nebraska Omaha Mavericks and UNO Mavericks, is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Nebraska Omaha. The Mavericks are a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). They play home games at Baxter Arena, an on-campus facility that opened in 2015. The Mavericks hockey program was started in 1997; the team has qualified for the NCAA tournament on three occasions, in 2006, 2011, 2015, and 2021. During the 2015 tournament, the team made their first appearance in the tournament semifinals, branded by the NCAA as the Frozen Four. The Mavericks competed in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) between 1999 and 2010 before joining the WCHA for the 2010–11 season. The Mavericks joined the National Collegiate Hockey Conference starting in the 2013–14 season along with fellow charter members Colorado College, the University of Denver, Miami University, the University of Minnesota Duluth, and the University of North Dakota, plus invited founding members St. Cloud State University and Western Michigan University.

Jim Culhane is a Canadian retired ice hockey defenceman. He played for the Hartford Whalers. Culhane coached the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team from 1999 to 2010.

2009–10 NCAA Division I mens ice hockey season

The 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October 8, 2009 and concluded with the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 10, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Denver and Miami entered the season as the nations' two top ranked teams. This was the 63rd season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 115th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.

The 2009–10 Alabama–Huntsville Chargers ice hockey team represented the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The Chargers were coached by Danton Cole who was in his third season as head coach. His assistant coaches were Chris Luongo and John McCabe. The Chargers played their home games in the Von Braun Center, and were a member of College Hockey America.

Robert Morris Colonials mens ice hockey

The Robert Morris Colonials men's ice hockey team was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represented Robert Morris University. The team played its home games at the Clearview Arena, located at the RMU Island Sports Center in Neville Township, Pennsylvania, United States. The Colonials were a member of the Atlantic Hockey Conference. Until the 2009–10 season, the Colonials were a member of College Hockey America.

Wayne State Warriors womens ice hockey

The Wayne State Warriors women's ice hockey is a defunct college ice hockey program represented at Wayne State University. The Warriors competed at the NCAA Division I level in the Great Lakes Women's Hockey Association from 1999–2002 and in College Hockey America 2002–2011.

2006–07 NCAA Division I mens ice hockey season

The 2006–07 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October, 2006 and ended with the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 7, 2007 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Michigan State won the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship, defeating Boston College 3–1 in the national championship game. This was the 60th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 112th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.

Jeff Blashill Ice hockey coach

Jeff Blashill is an American professional ice hockey coach. He is the current head coach for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Wayne State Warriors mens ice hockey

The Wayne State Warriors men's ice hockey team competed in NCAA's Division I in the College Hockey America (CHA) conference representing Wayne State University. The university dropped their men's program at the end of the 2007-08 season.

Bob Daniels is an American ice hockey coach, currently in charge at Ferris State, a position he has held since 1992.

Brent Brekke is an American former ice hockey player who currently the head coach at St. Lawrence.

References

  1. ↑ "2016 AHCA Major Awards Are Announced". American Hockey Coaches Association. January 14, 2016. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  2. ↑ "The appointment of Bill Wilkinson as hockey coach at..." UPI Archives. March 29, 1982. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Western Michigan Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  4. ↑ "WMU Fires Head Coach Wilkinson". USCHO.com. February 3, 1999. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Wayne State AD Vents About WSU Folding Program". USCHO.com. November 20, 2007. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Colorado College 4, Wayne State 2". USCHO.com. March 29, 2003. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Bill Wilkinson Coaching Record". College Hockey News. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
 CCHA Coach of the Year
1983–84
1985–86
1995–96 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
 CHA Coach of the Year
2001–02 		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.