In 2011, the UMass Lowell hockey program was coming off a nightmarish 5-24-4 season. The River Hawks were arguably the worst Division 1 team in the country. Worse, there were whispers that many in the UMass system wanted the program dissolved.
Enter Norm Bazin. When the UML alum was hired that year, he engineered maybe the greatest turnaround in NCAA hockey history. Under Bazin, the River Hawks went 24-13-1 and advanced to the NCAA regional final.
A 19-win turnaround in one season? Unheard of. Under Bazin, now in his 10th season at his alma mater, the River Hawks continue to win. Bazin has compiled a 214-118-33 record in Lowell. He's been the national Coach of the Year, the Hockey East Coach of the Year three times. He's guided UML to five NCAA Tournaments. His 2012-13 team was an overtime goal away from playing for the national title.
His UML teams have won 20-plus games six teams. This year, despite a slew of starts and stops due to COVID-19 positive tests, UML has gone 5-1-1 down the stretch, knocking off Vermont and second-seeded Boston University to reach the Hockey East semifinals. The top-ranked team in the nation, Boston College, awaits later today in Chestnut Hill. UML will be a massive underdog, but it's a role Bazin and his program embrace.
He doesn't land five-star recruits. He just wins. Year after year after year. He's one of the best coaches in the nation and UMass Lowell is lucky to have him.
Comments