Luke Strand

Last updated
Luke Strand
Current position
TitleHead coach
Team Minnesota State
Conference CCHA
Biographical details
Born (1973-02-12) February 12, 1973 (age 51)
Angeles City, Philippines
Alma mater University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
Playing career
1992–1993 North Iowa Huskies
1993–1997 Wisconsin–Eau Claire
1997–1999 Madison Monsters
1999–2000 Madison Kodiaks
Position(s) Right Wing
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2002–2003 St. Norbert (Assistant)
2003–2005 Green Bay Gamblers (Assistant)
2005–2007 Wisconsin–Eau Claire
2007–2009 Houston Aeros (Assistant)
2009–2011 Sioux City Musketeers
2011–2013 Abbotsford Heat (Assistant)
2014–2015 Madison Capitols
2015–2016 Wisconsin (Assistant)
2016–2017 Calgary Flames (scout)
2017–2022 Sioux City Musketeers
2022–2023 Ohio State (Assistant)
2023–Present Minnesota State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2013–2014 Sioux City Musketeers (GM)
Head coaching record
Overall226–184–55 (.545) [USHL]
18–15–4 (.541) [NCAA]

Luke Strand is the current head ice hockey coach of the Minnesota State men's ice hockey team. [1]

Contents

Career

While he was born in the Philippines, Strand grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. [2] After graduating from North High School in 1991, Strand joined the North Iowa Huskies to continue his junior career. His numbers with the club were solid but unremarkable. He was, however, able to earn a place on the varsity team at Wisconsin–Eau Claire. After a bad season during his freshman year, Strand was able to help the Blugolds post a winning season as a sophomore. His numbers remained consistent as an upperclassman, however, the team declined and ended with losing records in his final two years.

After graduating with a degree in Kinesiology, Strand continued his playing career with the Madison Monsters, a UHL team. He provided modest depth scoring for two seasons before the Monsters moved to Knoxville. Strand stayed in the area and joined the replacement Madison Kodiaks for their inaugural season in 1999, however, he retired as a player after the year.

When he was in 5th grade, Strand had written a school paper saying that when he grew up he wanted to wither be a fireman or coach. In 2002, he was able to fulfill one of those dreams by joining St. Norbert as an assistant. He helped the Green Knights take the next step in their ascent, finishing the regular season as the #1 team in the country while losing just 1 game. St. Norbert ended up losing in the National Semifinal to the eventual champion, however, they also lost Strand after the year when he accepted a similar position with the Green Bay Gamblers. In two years with the club, Strand was unable to help improve their performance as they missed the playoffs both years. He was, however, able to move on and accepted his first head coaching job, returning to his alma mater.

Strand's second appearance with the Blugolds came as the program was experiencing its nadir and they won just 2 games in his first year behind the bench. While his second season also ended with a losing record, the team performed far better and nearly quintupled their win total. [3] The swift turnaround garnered Strand his first coaching job in the pro ranks and he joined the Houston Aeros as an assistant.

Two years later, Strand returned to the USHL as the head coach for the Sioux City Musketeers. Two years on, after mediocre results, Strand was on the move again and he worked as an assistant for the Abbotsford Heat. Two years later, Strand tried his hand at being a general manager, working in that position for the Musketeers. He lasted just 7 months before accepting the head coaching position for the expansion Madison Capitols. Predictably, the first year team posted a losing record but it would be the best season for the franchise until 2021–22. [4]

Strand left the Capitols after just one season to take his first job at the Division I level, serving as an assistant at Wisconsin. After the season, the head coach, Mike Eaves was not retained and his entire staff was let go. [5] After spending a year working as a scout, Strand returned to the Sioux City for a third stint with the Musketeers. This time, however, he stuck around for a while. Strand served as the head coach for 5 seasons and slowly built the team into a power. In 2022, the Musketeers were third in the regular season and went on a tear through the playoffs, going 8–2 to win the franchise's first championship in 20 years. Coincidentally, Sioux City defeated the Madison Capitols in the finals.

After winning his first title, Strand returned to the college ranks and served as an assistant at Ohio State. He helped the already-successful program return to the NCAA tournament and produce an excellent season, finishing in the top 10 and reaching the Quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament. Shortly after the end of the season, the head coaching job at Minnesota State opened up and Strand accepted the position.

Head coaching record

USHL

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLOTLSOLPtsFinishResult
Sioux City Musketeers 2009–10 6027249–(63)5th in West
Sioux City Musketeers 2010–11 6031236–(68)6th in WestWestern Conference Quarterfinals
Madison Capitols 2014–15 60242511–(59)7th in East
Sioux City Musketeers 2017–18 60262644(60)7th in West
Sioux City Musketeers 2018–19 62302552(67)6th in WestWestern Conference Quarterfinals
Sioux City Musketeers 2019–20 48162471(40)8th in West
Sioux City Musketeers 2020–21 53312110(.594)*3rd in WestWestern Conference Final
Sioux City Musketeers 2021–22 62411641(87)2nd in WestClark Cup Champions
Totals465226184478———

* percentage used in 2021 due to an unbalanced schedule caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

College

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Minnesota State Mavericks (CCHA)(2023–present)
2023–24 Minnesota State 18–15–412–10–24th CCHA Semifinals
Total:18–15–4

      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

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References

  1. ↑ "Strand Named Head Coach of Maverick Hockey Program". Minnesota State Mavericks. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Luke Strand discusses becoming the head coach at Minnesota State, his background in hockey". The Rink Live. April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ "UW-Eau Claire Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Luke Strand". Linked In. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  5. ↑ Andy Baggot. "Alvarez: Change of direction needed for men's hockey".
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