University of St. Thomas Athletics
Rico Blasi brings rich Division I resume to St. Thomas hockey
4/6/2021 12:30:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The University of St. Thomas is excited to announce the hiring of Rico Blasi as its new men's hockey head coach.
Blasi, 49, brings three decades of experience as a Division I hockey player, grad assistant coach, assistant coach, head coach and administrator. He was chosen to lead St. Thomas in its transition into Division I hockey, which begins with play in fall 2021.
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.
"I would like to thank Dr. (Julie) Sullivan and Dr. (Phil) Esten for this incredible opportunity and their trust in me to lead our hockey program in this transition," Blasi said. "I'm honored, proud and excited to be a part of the St. Thomas family.
"First, 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. Sullivan, Dr. 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 becomes the 25th head coach in the last 100 seasons of St. Thomas men's hockey. He's just the fifth head coach in the program's last 52 seasons.
More on Rico Blasi
- 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
- His 398 victories rank him in the top 12 among all active NCAA Division I men's hockey coaches
- 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 joins the Tommies from Providence College, where he has served since October 2020 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 - Boston Bruins
"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, Boston College Head 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
About St. Thomas Athletics, Hockey
St. Thomas will make NCAA history starting in fall 2021 as it becomes the first Division III athletics program to make a direct move into Division I in all sports.
The Tommies will compete in the eight-team CCHA (men's hockey); eight-team Women's WCHA (women's hockey); the 11-team Pioneer Football League (football); and the 11-school Summit League (all other sports).
The Tommies led NCAA Division III men's hockey programs in all-time victories, and just completed their 39th consecutive winning season. St. Thomas made 10 NCAA playoff appearances in the last 22 years highlighted by NCAA runner-up finishes in 2000 and 2005.
Tommie men's hockey received 50 All-America honors over the last 49 years. The Purple won six MIAC regular-season championships in the last nine seasons, and qualified for the MIAC playoffs in each of the last 36 seasons.
Jeff Boeser, who served as head coach for St. Thomas over the last 11 years, announced last fall his plans to retire at the end of the 2020-21 season. The Toms finished a condensed 2020-21 schedule with a 6-1-2 record.
