Brennan Poderzay enters his sixth year as the University of Minnesota’s Director of Goaltending Development, a role he assumed in April 2026 after a three‑year stint as an assistant coach.
His ascent began before the 2021‑22 season, when he first arrived in Minneapolis as a volunteer, laying the groundwork for a program that would soon dominate the Big Ten.
Under his guidance, Justen Close set new program records, posting 13 shutouts and a .924 save percentage — the highest in school history — while helping the Gophers reach the NCAA Frozen Four twice and capture back‑to‑back regular‑season titles.
The Making of a Goaltending Powerhouse
The impact of his work extended to the 2024‑25 campaign, when the tandem of Nathan Airey and Liam Souliere led the team to a Big Ten‑record seventh regular‑season championship, underscoring the depth of his developmental pipeline.
Poderzay’s coaching pedigree includes six seasons at Minnesota State, where he amassed five WCHA regular‑season titles and mentored Dryden McKay, a three‑time WCHA Goaltending Champion and Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick finalist.
His influence also reached the professional and international stage, serving as a mentor for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and guiding PWHL Minnesota to a 2023‑24 league championship, a victory sealed by Nicole Hensley’s two shutouts in the finals.
Beyond the rink, Poderzay played college hockey at St. Scholastica and enjoyed a six‑year professional career, culminating in a bachelor’s degree in business management earned in 2013.
Through championships, record‑breaking performances, and a commitment to player growth, Brennan Poderzay has become a cornerstone of Minnesota’s hockey legacy.