Chad Kolarik has been appointed as the Associate Head Coach for the Minnesota State Men's Hockey program, a move that underscores the university's commitment to building on its recent successes.
A Strategic Addition to the Coaching Staff
Kolarik arrives after a stint as an assistant coach with the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League, where the club posted a 34‑30‑3 record in the 2025‑26 season and advanced to the Calder Cup Playoffs.
His coaching journey also includes three seasons with the United States National Team Development Program, where he worked with elite prospects and served as an assistant for the Under‑18 and Under‑17 national teams, as well as a bronze‑medal‑winning effort at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup alongside head coach Luke Strand.
Kolarik's playing résumé spans 16 professional seasons, featuring NHL appearances with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers, a bronze‑medal performance at the 2018 Winter Olympics, and a productive European career that took him to some of the world's top leagues.
The Mavericks have enjoyed back‑to‑back MacNaughton and Mason Cup championships under head coach Luke Strand, earning consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and establishing a culture of winning that Kolarik is expected to reinforce.
The position was previously held by Troy G. Ward, who has now taken on a new role with the Shanhai Dragons in the KHL, leaving a vacancy that Kolarik is poised to fill as the program looks ahead to the next chapter.