Michigan State University Athletics
Comley Introduced As MSU Hockey Coach
3/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 25, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Rick Comley was officially introduced as Michigan State's new head hockey coach at a press conference at Munn Ice Arena this afternoon (March 25). The former Northern Michigan mentor replaces Ron Mason, who is stepping down as the Spartans' coach to become the school's director of athletics.
"I appreciate the opportunity," Comley said. "I thank (current MSU athletics director) Clarence (Underwood), I thank Ron, everyone who has been involved with this. It's a dream come true for me and my family."
Comley has been a head coach for 29 years, including 26 seasons at Northern Michigan. The only bench boss in NMU history, Comley posted a 538-429-68 (.553) record with the Wildcats from 1976-2002. His career mark, which includes three seasons (1973-76) at Lake Superior State, is 597-475-71 (.553). He won an NCAA title with Northern Michigan in 1991 and guided Lake Superior State to an NAIA crown. His teams have earned three CCHA regular-season titles, two CCHA playoff championships, one WCHA regular-season championship and three WCHA tournament crowns.
"His teams are very well-coached and they're very disciplined," said junior defenseman John-Michael Liles. "They work extremely hard and I am sure he's going to bring that mentality down here. I think he'll bring a lot of energy. Coach Mason wouldn't have brought him in if he wasn't a top-of-the-line coach."
A native of Stratford, Ont., Comley currently ranks seventh among NCAA coaches in career victories. He won the Spencer Penrose Memorial Trophy as national coach of the year in 1980 and 1991 and is a two-time recipient of CCHA Coach of the Year (1980 and 1981) and WCHA Coach of the Year (1989 and 1991) honors. One of three individuals to win championships in the WCHA and CCHA, Comley is one of eight coaches to win more than 550 games and is one of 10 to post more than 500 victories at one school.
Comley was a four-year letterwinner under Mason at Lake Superior State from 1967-71. He spent the 1972-73 season as the Lakers' varsity assistant and recruiter and took over as Lake Superior State's head coach when Mason took over the coaching reins at Bowling Green prior to the 1973-74 season.
"To me, he's the best fit for this position and will do an excellent job with his players on the ice and off the ice," said Mason. "He has tremendous credentials. When you have an opportunity to get a star, and that's what I call Rick Comley, you can't pass that opportunity up."
Comley earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Lake Superior State in 1972 and a master's degree in education from Northern Michigan in 1973. He is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame at both schools. He and his wife, Diane, are the parents of a daughter, Gillian, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and a son, Rick, a junior at NMU.
