Massachusetts-Lowell announced Thursday that it has extended the contract of head coach Norm Bazin through the 2017-18 season.
Bazin, entering his third season at UML, has compiled a record of 52-24-3 in his first two seasons, including a 28-11-1 mark in 2012-13 that included both the Hockey East regular-season and tournament championships and a trip to the Frozen Four.
The extension is the second in as many years for Bazin, who earned his first on July 25, 2012, following a debut season that saw the River Hawks go 24-13-1 and reach the NCAA tournament.
“Strong leadership is required to achieve success on a consistent basis and Norm has demonstrated in just two years at UMass.-Lowell that he is one of very best in the country at his job,” said UML director of athletics Dana Skinner in a news release. “He has established a new standard of competitive excellence while instilling all the intangibles needed to produce high-quality student-athletes.”
Bazin was named the recipient of the 2013 Hockey East Bob Kullen Award for coach of the year for the second straight year and went on to capture the Spencer Penrose Award as Division I’s top coach.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Chancellor [Marty] Meehan and Dana Skinner for their show of support in the direction of our hockey program,” Bazin added. “The team, my staff and I have been able to accomplish a number of firsts last season and I’m thrilled to see them acknowledge those efforts. As an alumnus, I am proud of the growth I am seeing on our campus and I look forward to being part of that progress for many years to come.”
