Don Lucia steps down as Minnesota head coach after 19 years with program

Minnesota hockey coach Don Lucia will step down after 19 seasons behind the bench, the school announced on Tuesday.

"Gopher Hockey is not just a college hockey program, it’s a cultural institution in the state of Minnesota, built on more than 90 years of success and tradition. Few have contributed as much to that legacy as Don," athletic director Mark Coyle said.

Coyle and Lucia have agreed the former coach will remain with Gopher Athletics as a special assistant until June 2019.

During his tenure at Minnesota, beginning in 1999, Lucia amassed 457 wins to go along with eight regular-season conference titles, four conference tournament titles, five Frozen Four appearances, and back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003.