Brandon Naurato named permanent Michigan hockey coach
Michigan hockey finally has its permanent head coach. A.D. Warde Manuel has taken the interim tag off Brandon Naurato and agreed to terms in principle to make him the full time coach.
Naurato replaced Mel Pearson last year after Pearson’s contract wasn’t renewed. Details of the five-year contract will be finalized and communicated after the Frozen Four, which begins next Thursday in Tampa, Fla. The Wolverines will face Quinnipiac after winning the Big Ten Tournament title and the Allentown region of the NCAA Tournament.
“I am thrilled that Brandon Naurato will continue to lead our ice hockey program, and it is with that knowledge that I am incredibly excited for the future of this storied program,” Michigan A.D. Manuel said. “Simply put, Brandon has done a phenomenal job with this team over the past year.
“In his first year as the Head Coach, Brandon has kept his focus on the success of our student-athletes and staff who support the program … and the results of his leadership are clearly evident. He leads with positivity and with vision and has demonstrated his capability to lead at a high level. I look forward to watching the program sustain great success under his leadership.”
He’s also an outstanding recruiter, and now it will get even easier now that his future is no longer in question.
“I’m extremely honored to be officially named the head coach of Michigan Hockey,” Naurato said. “Michigan holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I met my wife and where I started my family. It’s where I want to be for a long time. I want to thank Warde Manuel and the administration for their support and trust with this program.
“I’d also like to thank the Michigan alumni and our incredible fans for their unwavering support throughout the season. We’re going to continue on what we’ve been building and I’m looking forward to putting more of my stamp on Michigan Hockey and elevating it from where I found it.”
Naurato has been named a finalist for the 2023 Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the CCM/AHCA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. The Michigan coach’s first team features the highest-scoring offense in the nation into the Frozen Four, averaging 4.22 goals per game, despite being the nation’s youngest team. The squad has been ranked in the top 10 nationally all season and set an NCAA record last week for most goals in an NCAA Regional game with 11 in a win over Colgate.
A native of Livonia, Michigan, Naurato joined U-M in 2021-22 following three years with the Detroit Red Wings organization, where he served as a player development consultant. He worked with the Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins coaching staffs to incorporate individual player skills into the organizational structure.
Naurato also worked independently with junior, college, and professional players in his development program, focusing on blending technical, tactical, and transferable skills. He also spent seven years as the owner and director of Total Package Hockey in Detroit, where he started the first online hockey academy in the United States.
The former Wolverine, though, has always had Michigan in his heart.
“The ultimate goal is and always will be to win while simultaneously cultivating the student-athletes’ individual and group identities, on-ice skills, mental health and leadership skills,” he said. “Our staff will take pride in preparing these young men for the game of life and they will leave our program better men — Michigan Men. Go Blue!”
