| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Volunteer assistant coach |
| Team | Nazareth Golden Flyers |
| Conference | UCHC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | (1953-01-28)January 28, 1953 (age 72) Albert Lea, Minnesota |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1980–1985 | Bethel (MN) |
| 1985–1986 | Wisconsin–River Falls |
| 1986–1987 | St. Cloud State (asst.) |
| 1987–2005 | St. Cloud State |
| 2011–2017 | Geneseo State (asst.) |
| 2017–Present | Nazareth (volunteer asst.) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 407–401–59 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| WCHA tournament championship (2001) | |
| Awards | |
| MIAC Coach of the Year (1985) WCHA Coach of the Year (1998) | |
Craig Dahl (born January 28, 1953) is an Americanice hockey coach. He was the head coach ofSt. Cloud State from 1987 thru 2005.[1] After retiring from coaching for about six years, Dahl returned to helpChris Schultz atSUNY Geneseo starting in 2011-12 and later continuied as a volunteer assistant atNazareth.
Although Dahl received a football scholarship from theUniversity of Minnesota, he transferred to and graduated fromPacific Lutheran University in 1976 with a degree in physical education and social sciences.[2] Dahl began his coaching career a few years later when he took over the top job atBethel College fromDavid Harris.[3]
Over the course of 5 seasons at the helm Dahl directed the fledgling program on an upwards trajectory, going from 3 wins in his first season to 15 in his last, including being named 1985MIAC Coach of the Year. Dahl moved east for 1985-86, taking over atWisconsin–River Falls before receiving the opportunity to serve under storied college coachHerb Brooks as an assistant withSt. Cloud State as it was getting ready to move up toDivision I.[4]
Dahl remained as an assistant for only one season, however, as Brooks moved back to theNHL to coach theMinnesota North Stars the next year. With the Huskies playing as a D-I independent starting in 1987-88, Dahl was offered the head coaching duties and proceeded to serve in that position for the next 19 years. In only his second year, Dahl led the Huskies to their first tournament berth but lost both games against defending championLake Superior State in the first round. In 1991, St. Cloud joined theWCHA, giving it a much better opportunity to receive further invites to theNCAA tournament though it took over a decade for the Huskies t make their return.[5]
Despite playing against multiple powerhouse teams throughout the 1990s, Dahl was able to keep St. Cloud's record respectable, posting 4 winning seasons and finishing with a sub-.400 mark only once (1995–96) while also making the conference tournament title game in1994. Dahl closed out the Huskies first decade with the WCHA by leading St. Cloud to their first tournament berth in2000. The next season Dahl led the Huskies to their first 30-win season and conference tournament championship (the only time in school for either(as of 2014)). From 2000 to 2003 Dahl brought the St. Cloud to four consecutive NCAA tournament berths but failed to win a single game.
After the 2004-05 season Dahl announced his decision to step down as head coach of St. Cloud State to pursue a career in the private sector.[6]
While the move seemed to be an end to Dahl's coaching career he made an unexpected returned behind the bench as a volunteer assistant withSUNY Geneseo in 2011-12.[7] Dahl stepped down in 2017 and took on a volunteer coaching role withNazareth the same year.[8]
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Royals(MIAC)(1980–1985) | |||||||||
| 1980–81 | Bethel | 3–23–1 | 3–12–1 | 8th | |||||
| 1981–82 | Bethel | 15–15–0 | 7–9–0 | T–5th | |||||
| 1982–83 | Bethel | 10–17–0 | 3–13–0 | 9th | |||||
| 1982–83 | Bethel | 11–14–1 | 6–10–0 | T–5th | |||||
| 1984–85 | Bethel | 15–10–0 | 11–5–0 | T–2nd | |||||
| Bethel: | 54–80–2 | ||||||||
| Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons(NCHA)(1985–1986) | |||||||||
| 1985–86 | Wisconsin–River Falls | 15–12–3 | 11–5–0 | 4th | NCHA Semifinals | ||||
| Wisconsin–River Falls: | 15–12–3 | ||||||||
| St. Cloud State HuskiesIndependent(1987–1990) | |||||||||
| 1987–88 | St. Cloud State | 11–25–1 | |||||||
| 1988–89 | St. Cloud State | 19–16–2 | NCAA first round | ||||||
| 1989–90 | St. Cloud State | 17–19–2 | |||||||
| St. Cloud State: | 47–60–5 | ||||||||
| St. Cloud State Huskies(WCHA)(1990–2005) | |||||||||
| 1990–91 | St. Cloud State | 18–19–4 | 12–16–4 | t–5th | WCHA first round | ||||
| 1991–92 | St. Cloud State | 14–21–2 | 12–19–1 | t–7th | WCHA first round | ||||
| 1992–93 | St. Cloud State | 15–18–3 | 14–16–2 | 7th | WCHA first round | ||||
| 1993–94 | St. Cloud State | 21–13–4 | 16–12–4 | 4th | WCHA Runner–Up | ||||
| 1994–95 | St. Cloud State | 17–20–1 | 15–16–1 | t–5th | WCHA first round | ||||
| 1995–96 | St. Cloud State | 13–22–4 | 10–18–4 | 8th | WCHA Quarterfinal | ||||
| 1996–97 | St. Cloud State | 23–13–4 | 18–10–4 | 3rd | WCHA third-place game (loss) | ||||
| 1997–98 | St. Cloud State | 22–16–2 | 16–11–1 | 4th | WCHA third-place game (loss) | ||||
| 1998–99 | St. Cloud State | 16–18–5 | 8–16–4 | 7th | WCHA Quarterfinal | ||||
| 1999–00 | St. Cloud State | 23–14–3 | 16–9–3 | 3rd | NCAA East regional quarterfinals | ||||
| 2000–01 | St. Cloud State | 31–9–1 | 20–8–0 | 2nd | NCAA West regional semifinals | ||||
| 2001–02 | St. Cloud State | 29–11–2 | 19–7–2 | 2nd | NCAA West regional quarterfinals | ||||
| 2002–03 | St. Cloud State | 17–16–5 | 12–11–5 | 6th | NCAA Northeast regional semifinals | ||||
| 2003–04 | St. Cloud State | 18–16–4 | 12–12–4 | 6th | WCHA first round | ||||
| 2004–05 | St. Cloud State | 14–23–3 | 8–19–1 | 9th | WCHA first round | ||||
| St. Cloud State: | 291–249–47 | 208–200–40 | |||||||
| Total: | 407–401–57 | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion | |||||||||
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | WCHA Coach of the Year 1997–98 | Succeeded by |