Rico Blasi - Head Coach - Men's Hockey Coaches - The University of St. Thomas

Photo by: University of St. Thomas

Rico Blasi

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
ecblasi@stthomas.edu
Phone:
651-962-5911

Awards & Achievements

2015 NCHC Tournament Champion
2011 Mason Cup Winner
2010 Frozen Four Appearance
2009 Frozen Four National Championship Appearance
2006 Spencer Penrose Award
3-time CCHA Regular Season Champion (2006, 2010, 2013)
5-time CCHA Coach of the Year (2001, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013)
10-time NCAA Tournament Qualifier

Rico Blasi is entering his third season as the head coach of the St. Thomas men's hockey team in 2023-24. Blasi joined the University of Tommie family in April 2021 to help lead the Division I era as its new men's hockey head coach.

Blasi, 51, came to St. Thomas with three decades of experience as a Division I hockey player, grad assistant coach, assistant coach, head coach and administrator.

During his 20-year era as Miami (Ohio) University head coach (1999-2019), Blasi and his Redhawks earned 10 NCAA tournament appearances highlighted by one championship game berth (2008-09) and one other Frozen Four appearance (2009-10).

Blasi was selected as National Coach of the Year in 2005-06. He also coached one Hobey Baker Award winner and eight other Hobey finalists; 10 All-America players; one CoSIDA Academic All-America recipient; and 25 Redhawks who went on to play in the National Hockey League.

When he was hired Blasi pledged to build a strong team culture with unselfish players, with an eye on steady growth and progress during the coming seasons.

"We are uniquely positioned in the 'STATE of Hockey' with academic excellence, athletic tradition, and incredible alumni and community support. Next, the commitment and leadership from Dr. (Julie) Sullivan, Dr. (Phil) Esten and the Board of Trustees will help lay the groundwork for success. Plus, there's a beautiful campus, and a foundation of Faith that I believe will position us to create a national brand for hockey at St. Thomas. We will strive, each and every day, to be the best we can be. We will be grateful and proud to wear the Purple and represent this university."

"I'm thrilled to welcome Rico Blasi and his family to Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas," said Phil Esten, Vice President and Director of Athletics. "During our national search we spoke with many impressive and highly-qualified individuals, and Coach Blasi quickly rose to the top of our list. Rico is a seasoned, culture-driven, student athlete-centric leader who is aligned with our institutional and athletics values and perfectly positioned to help transition and build our Division I program. He brings a well-earned reputation as a program builder, and his contagious energy and passion for the sport are impressive. Those qualities made him our clear choice to lead St. Thomas into the future.

"Simply put, Rico brings the right experience, the right vision, and the right values to help St. Thomas hockey succeed on the ice and in the classroom."

Blasi became the 25th head coach in the last 100 seasons of St. Thomas men's hockey. He's just the fourth head coach in the program in a 46-year span since 1976.

More on Rico Blasi

Joined the 400-Win Club in winter 2022, one of only 10 Division-I head coaches to surpass 400 career victories
Was Division I hockey's youngest head coach in 1999 when at age 27 he was hired at Miami, his alma mater.
Was named Central Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year in just his second season after leading a seven-win turnaround to a 17-10-3 mark in conference play
Led Miami to a CCHA runner-up finish and NCAA Tournament appearance in just his fourth season
That NCAA berth ended the Redhawks' six-year tournament drought
Led Miami to program's first No. 1 national ranking (2005-06)
Led first Miami athletics team in any sport to play in an NCAA championship game
His 2007-08 team set a program record for season wins in a 33-8-1 finish
In Miami's last eight years in the CCHA era (2005-13), his teams averaged 26 victories a season
Played on Miami hockey's first NCAA tournament team (1992-93)
As a Redhawk player was part of teams that improved from five wins in his freshman season of 1990-91 to 27 wins in his junior season of 1992-93
As a player at Miami was two-time captain and two-time recipient of Blue Line Club Award (annual leadership honor presented to one player for exemplary on and off ice contributions)
Will make a return to the CCHA, where he received five league Coach of the Year honors during his first 14 seasons. The original CCHA disbanded after the 2012-13 season, but a new CCHA was announced this year. St. Thomas is one of eight members of the new CCHA which starts play in 2021-22.
He joined the Tommies from Providence College, where he has served for 18 months as the Associate Athletic Director for Men's and Women's Hockey.

What Others Are Saying

"The four years I spent at Miami with Coach Blasi were some of my favorite as both a player and student. We had teams full of talented players, high-character people, and a tradition of winning. St. Thomas is off to a great start. I can't wait to follow and have a new team to cheer for at St. Thomas." - Sean Kuraly, Center - Columbus Blue Jackets

"Rico is a highly successful coach who fits the values of the University of St Thomas. He has won multiple CCHA and NCHC championships and taken teams to numerous NCAA Tournaments and Frozen Fours. Rico will build a winning culture in the classroom, on the ice and in the community. I look forward to assisting Rico and St Thomas in their transition to Division I hockey and the CCHA." - Don Lucia, CCHA Commissioner

"Rico's 10 NCAA appearances and mulitple championships in the CCHA and NCHC speak for themselves, but most impressive is the fact that he has gotten every program with which he has been involved to the next level of success." - Nate Leaman, Providence College Head Coach

"Rico is an excellent hire by St. Thomas. His experience and ability to build a program are outstanding. I couldn't be happier to have him back coaching the college game. St. Thomas is going to benefit from his experience and ability to build a program." - Jerry York, Former Boston College Head Coach and winningest NCAA hockey coach

"Rico Blasi is an extraordinary leader, a better coach and an even better person. His values align perfectly with the University of St. Thomas and his student-centered coaching philosophy will maximize the holistic development of those fortunate to play for him. President Sullivan and Director Esten have chosen an exceptional Head Coach who will be fully integrated in the community and actively involved on campus. He is very smart, funny, a visionary, extremely competitive, personable, a great recruiter, ethical and genuine, and I look forward to watching St. Thomas Hockey, and Rico's many contributions, in the coming years." - Brad Bates, Vice President, Consulting - Collegiate Sports Associates

"Rico proved at Miami University he is a builder of hockey and a builder of men. His brotherhood philosophy is real, and it is the foundation of on-ice success. Passion, experience, and a human touch is on the way." - John Buccigross, ESPN Anchor

Rico Blasi Year-By-Year