Contract shows MSU's commitment to hockey, Hastings

Mike Hastings agreed to a 10-year contract with Minnesota State over the offseason, as the school started working on a new deal after another college, presumably Nebraska Omaha, sought permission to talk to him about its coaching opening.

The long-term deal was an impressive proposal to make sure Hastings remained in Mankato. The contract also included a raise to more than $335,000 as well as promises to enhance other areas of the program, including cost-of-attendance stipends for the players, raises for assistant coaches and bigger budgets for team travel and recruiting.

For more on the contract, read my Free Press story here.

Hastings was hired by Minnesota State in 2012 and got a salary of $225,000. That was raised to $290,000 in 2015 when he received a new, eight-year deal.

"We think he's the best coach in the country," MSU president Richard Davenport said.