Joe Shawhan

Last updated

Joe Shawhan
Current position
TitleHead coach
Team Michigan Tech
Conference CCHA
Biographical details
Born (1963-01-28) January 28, 1963 (age 62)
Sault Ste. Marie, MI, US
Alma mater Lake Superior State University
Playing career
1982–1987 Lake Superior State
Position(s) Goaltender
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1988–1995 Lake Superior State (Volunteer Assistant)
1995–2005 Soo Indians (HC/GM)
2005–2008 Lake Superior State (Assistant)
2008–2014 Northern Michigan (Assistant)
2014–2017 Michigan Tech (Assistant)
2017–present Michigan Tech
Head coaching record
Overall138–103–26 (.566) [College]
474–162–43 (.730) [NAHL]
Tournaments0–4 (.000)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
2023 CCHA Coach of the Year

Joseph R. Shawhan (born January 28, 1963) is an American ice hockey head coach who was head coach at Michigan Tech [1] from 2017-2025.

Contents

Career

Shawhan began his time at Lake Superior State in 1982. After sitting out the 1984–85 season he returned in force, finishing second in the nation with a 3.03 goals against average. During his time with the Lakers the program went from 11th in the conference to a perennial power and won the national title the year after he finished school. Shawhan stuck around his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for several more years, working as a volunteer assistant for the Lakers until he accepted the head coaching job for the expansion Soo Indians (also located in Sault Ste. Marie). The Indians lasted only ten seasons with Shawhan serving as the general manager and head coach for the entire time, but during their brief existence they left a lasting impression. Shawhan compiled a record of 474–162–43, becoming the winningest coach in the history of the NAHL. He won the coach of the year three times (1996, 2000 and 2001) [2] while his team won three league titles. [3]

After the Soo Indians suspended operations in 2005 Shawhan returned to college, rejoining Lake Superior State as a full-time assistant staying with the Lakers for another three years before accepting his first position outside of Sault Ste. Marie. He still didn't have to the leave the Upper Peninsula, moving down the road a short way to Marquette and becoming first a volunteer assistant for Northern Michigan and transitioned into director of hockey operations before assuming a full-time assistant coaching position. In 2014 he accepted a post at Michigan Tech as an assistant under Mel Pearson. [4] Shawhan worked specifically with the goaltenders and defenseman and the team saw immediate results, recording three consecutive 20+ win seasons (their first since 1988) and made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1981.

With Shawhan's arrival timing perfectly for the program's renaissance he was perhaps the obvious choice to be named as Pearson's replacement in 2017.

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA)(2018–2021)
2017–18 Michigan Tech 22–17–512–11–5–25th NCAA East Regional semifinals
2018–19 Michigan Tech 14–20–413–12–3–16th WCHA quarterfinals
2019–20 Michigan Tech 21–15–314–12–2–06th Tournament cancelled
2020–21 Michigan Tech 17–12–17–7–0T–5th WCHA quarterfinals
Michigan Tech:74–64–1346–42–9
Michigan Tech Huskies(CCHA)(2021–present)
2021–22 Michigan Tech 21–13–316–8–22nd NCAA West Regional semifinals
2022–23 Michigan Tech 24–11–415–7–42nd NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals
2023–24 Michigan Tech 19–15–612–10–2T–2nd NCAA East Regional semifinals
Michigan Tech:64–39–1343–25–8
Total:138–103–26

      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

References

  1. "Michigan Tech promotes Shawhan to take over as new head coach". USCHO.com. May 30, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  2. "NAHL 2000-01 Award Winners". NAHL. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  3. "Joe Shawhan Named Head Hockey Coach at Michigan Tech". Michigan Tech Huskies. May 30, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  4. "Shawhan Named Assistant Hockey Coach". Michigan Tech Huskies. July 14, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by CCHA Coach of the Year
2022–23
Succeeded by