Berenson, Pearson finalists for college hockey coach of the year

By @MichaelCaples –

The finalists for the Spencer Penrose Award – given annually to the NCAA Division I coach of the year – have been announced, and two heads of Michigan-based programs are in the running.

Michigan head coach Red Berenson and Michigan Tech head coach Mel Pearson are two of the eight finalists for the award.

The Spencer Penrose Award is named in memory of the Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, site of the first 10 NCAA championship hockey tournaments. The actual award will be presented at the AHCA Coach of the Year Banquet in Naples, Florida, on Wednesday evening, April 27. The AHCA Coach of the Year Awards are chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association and sponsored by STX.

Berenson won the prestigious award in 2008 while Pearson was working as his assistant coach.

The full list of nominees:

Red Berenson, Michigan, Big Ten Coach of the Year*
Brad Berry, North Dakota, NCHC Coach of the Year, NCAA Semi-Finalist
Nate Leaman, Providence, Hockey East Coach of the Year*
Jim Montgomery, Denver, NCAA Semi-Finalist
Mel Pearson, Michigan Tech, WCHA Coach of the Year
Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac, ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year, NCAA Semi-Finalist
Frank Serratore, Air Force, Atlantic Hockey Coach of the Year
Jerry York, Boston College, NCAA Semi-Finalist*

*Past Spencer Penrose Award Winner