After an article in the Kalamazoo Gazette earlier this week that said Western Michigan head coach Jeff Blashill may be one and done with the Broncos and could be accepting an assistant coaching position with the Detroit Red Wings, the school made it official Friday in announcing Blashill’s resignation.
Blashill led the Broncos this past year to their first NCAA tournament in 15 seasons.
“Today is a very emotional day for me,” said Blashill in a statement. “I am extremely excited for the opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream to coach in the NHL with the best organization in sports, the Detroit Red Wings. However, it is with extreme sadness that I step down as head coach of the Western Michigan Bronco hockey team. WMU is an extremely special place with special attributes. I am certain that with the commitment the university is making to hockey, that Bronco hockey will continue on its current path of becoming an elite program nationally. My goal when I became head coach was to bring the program to national prominence and I am totally convinced that will happen very soon, regardless of my leaving.”
USCHO.com named Blashill its National Coach of the Year this season.
No word on who will replace Blashill behind the WMU bench.
