Dean Blais is currently the Head Coach for the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Head Coach for the United States men's national junior ice hockey team. He led Team USA to a gold medal in the IIHF 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in Saskatoon, Canada, held in late December 2009 through early January 2010.
He is the former associate coach of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. He led the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey men's team to Frozen Four NCAA Division I championships in 1997 and 2000. Blais also led the 1990 Roseau Rams to a Minnesota State Hockey Championship.
A native of International Falls, Minnesota, Blais played college hockey at the University of Minnesota from 1970 to 1973. He played three seasons of pro hockey with the Chicago Blackhawks’ farm team in Dallas.
Career[]
- 1976–1977 - University of Minnesota - Assistant Coach
- 1977–1980 - Minot High School (Minot, North Dakota) - Head Coach
- 1980–1989 - University of North Dakota - Assistant Coach
- 1990–1991 - Roseau High School (Roseau, Minnesota) - Head Coach
- 1992–1994 - International Falls High School (International Falls, Minnesota) - Head Coach
- 1994–2004 - University of North Dakota - Head Coach
- 2004–2006 - Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) - Associate Coach
- 2006–2007 - Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) - Player Development
- 2007-2009 - Fargo Force (USHL) - General Manager/Head Coach
- 2009-2010 - Team USA U20 - Head Coach
- 2009–present - University of Nebraska-Omaha - Head Coach
Head coaching record[]
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota (WCHA) (1994–2004) | |||||||||
| 1994–1995 | North Dakota | 18–18–3 | |||||||
| 1995–1996 | North Dakota | 19–18–1 | |||||||
| 1996–1997 | North Dakota | 31–10–2 | |||||||
| 1997–1998 | North Dakota | 30–8–1 | |||||||
| 1998–1999 | North Dakota | 32–6–3 | |||||||
| 1999–2000 | North Dakota | 31–8–5 | |||||||
| 2000–2001 | North Dakota | 29–8–9 | |||||||
| 2001–2002 | North Dakota | 16–19–2 | |||||||
| 2002–2003 | North Dakota | 26–12–5 | |||||||
| 2003–2004 | North Dakota | 30–8–3 | |||||||
| North Dakota: | 262-115-34 | ||||||||
| Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) (2009–Present) | |||||||||
| 2009-2010 | Nebraska-Omaha | 17-13-6 | 13-12-3-2 | ||||||
| Total: | 279–128–40 | ||||||||
|
National Champion
Conference Regular Season Champion
Conference Tournament Champion
| |||||||||
| Preceded by John "Gino" Gasparini |
North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey head coach 1994–2004 |
Succeeded by Dave Hakstol |
| Preceded by first |
Fargo Force Head Coach 2007–2009 |
Succeeded by Steve Johnson |
| Preceded by Mike Kemp |
Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey head coach 2009–present |
Succeeded by current |