Legendary Minnesota Duluth hockey head coach Mike Sertich, who not only served as head coach of the Bulldogs for 18 years but also served as defenseman from 1965 to 1969, passed away on August 8 in Duluth, Minnesota.

He was 77.

Sertich, who led the UMD program from 1982 to 2000, led UMD to all three WCHA regular season titles (1984, 1985, 1993), both playoff championships (1984, 1985) and the first four NCAA postseason appearances (1983, 1984, 1985, 1993).

A native of Virginia, Minnesota, Sertich posted an overall career record of 350-328-44. He received the Spencer Penrose Award (National Coach of the Year) in 1984 after his Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA title game against Bowling Green in Lake Placid, NY, losing to the Falcons 5-4 after a thrilling four-overtime game. Sertich returned UMD to the 1985 NCAA Frozen Four the following year, setting a club record for wins (36-9-3 overall). He is one of only two four-time winners of the WCHA Coach of the Year Award (1983, 1984, 1985, 1993) and the only one to win the honor three consecutive seasons.

Under Sertich, UMD produced three Hobey Baker Memorial Award winners (Tom Kurvers in 1984, Bill Watson in 1985 and Chris Marinucci in 1994), 11 NCAA All-Americans, five WCHA Players of the Year, 10 Olympians and 21 future NHL players during his 18-year tenure.

Sertich was the head coach at Michigan Tech from 2000-03 before becoming a volunteer coach at St. Scholastica in 2010, a position he held for three seasons. He also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. national sledge hockey team in 2015-16 and has volunteered with Hermantown’s youth hockey programs.

As a player for the Bulldogs, Sertich played three years (1966-69) and was voted the club’s Most Improved Player as a senior. A defenseman, Sertich appeared in 64 games during his UMD career, scoring two goals and adding seven assists for nine points. Sertich often joked about the “scoring ability” he possessed during his time at UMD, although the one goal he scored in a WCHA game came at the expense of a goalie named Tony Esposito of Michigan Tech – and later – the goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL.

Sertich earned a bachelor’s degree in history and physical education from UMD in 1969 and his master’s of education from Bemidji State University in 1972.

Sertich was inducted into the UMD Hall of Fame in 2005 and received the WCHA’s Distinguished Service Award in 2004-2005 and the AHCA Snooks Founders Award in 2005. He was also awarded the Hobey Baker Legend of College Hockey in 2021 and celebrated not only for his championships, but also for his sportsmanship and integrity.

Although he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2022, Sertich continued to inspire Bulldogs and hockey fans alike. In October 2023, he was presented with the US Hockey Hall of Fame Museum’s Spirit of Life Award at AMSOIL Arena.

Sertich is survived by his daughter Lori (Derek Fredrickson), two sons, John (Heidi) and Scott (Tammy), his grandchildren Danny, Shjon, Lauren, Elise, Sophia and his brother Steve Sertich.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UMD Coach Mike Sertich Men’s Hockey Scholarship. Donations can be made online or mailed to the UMD Advancement Office.