Joe Exter - Men's Ice Hockey Coach - Michigan State University Athletics

Joe Exter

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
hockey@msu.edu
Phone:
355-1639

Joe Exter is in his fourth season at Michigan State after joining the coaching staff in May 2017. Exter came to MSU after highly-successful stints at Ohio State and the U.S. National Team Development Program.

While contributing to the Spartans’ improvement in all areas over the last three seasons, Exter provides Spartan netminders an especially high level of expertise as one of the country’s foremost goaltending tutors.

Exter played a significant role in upping John Lethemon’s save percentage each season, which culminated last year with the third best single-season save percentage (.935) in MSU history, behind only Ryan Miller. Lethemon, a second team All-Big Ten selection in 2019-20, posted a 2.13 GAA, which ranks eighth best in MSU history.

In 2018-19, Exter helped goaltender Drew DeRider to a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman team as one of six Spartans to earn all-conference accolades.

In his six seasons (2011-17) at Ohio State, Exter helped the Buckeyes reach the NCAA Tournament in 2017 and mentored three All-Americans in Mason Jobst (2017), Ryan Dzingel (2014) and Brady Hjelle (2013).

While with the USNTDP from 2007-11, Exter was on the coaching staff of the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team for four IIHF World Men's Under-18 Championships, helping Team USA to a bronze medal in 2008, before capturing three consecutive gold medals from 2009-11.

His highly-accomplished tenure with USA Hockey also included serving on the staff at the World Junior Championship in 2010, `11 and `12. The team won gold in 2010 and then bronze in 2011, marking the first time the USA won back-to-back medals in the event.

As the first full-time goaltending coach with the NTDP, Exter was responsible for planning, designing and executing the regular on-ice practices for goaltenders, as well as scouting and evaluating the nation's top goaltending prospects. Exter was the coordinator of the revolutionary Warren Strelow National Goaltending Mentor Program, which is designed to recruit, develop and produce elite goaltenders across the United States.

Exter spent the 2006-07 season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League, where he was responsible for the team's defensemen and goaltenders, as well as overseeing scouting and recruiting efforts.

A native of Cranston, Rhode Island, Exter got his first college hockey coaching opportunity in 2005-06, serving as an assistant coach at American International College.

Exter began his coaching career as an assistant at Cushing Academy, his alma mater.

Exter was a 2003 second-team All-Hockey East selection at Merrimack and earned a spot on the league's 2001 all-rookie team. He served as team captain as a senior after being named an assistant captain the prior season. He was the team's MVP in 2003 and also garnered the Players Coach Award.

Following his collegiate career, Exter spent two seasons in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, playing for the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers.

Exter earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Merrimack in 2003.

Exter is married to Erin Van Bruggen and the couple has one son, Maxwell, who was born in 2012.