Lucia named CCHA commissioner

Don Lucia was 59 years old when he stepped down as Minnesota's men's hockey coach, a young age for someone whose been successful in that profession.

After a year as an athletics administrator at the U and another year away from the game, the 61-year-old Lucia is back in the college hockey business. On Wednesday he was hired as the first commissioner of the new CCHA.

Lucia, who was introduced in a Zoom press conference broadcast live on YouTube, said taking the job was "a way to give back to the game" that's been so good to him over his career.

Lucia was the Gophers' coach for 19 years, winning national championships in 2002 and 2003. Prior to that he coached at Colorado College and Alaska Fairbanks. He played college hockey at Notre Dame.

Now, his task is to make a new conference successful. The CCHA, which will begin play in the 2021-22 season, will have seven teams, at least at this point — Minnesota State, Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State. 

Lucia was asked about an eighth team — St. Thomas could be a possibility if the NCAA grants the Division III school a waiver to move up to DI — and said that the group is fine currently at seven. Only if a program is a good fit competitively and geographically would another school be considered.

“You need a leader," Minnesota State coach Mike Hastings told The Rink Live. "You need somebody that understands the multitude of levels that you have to have a handle on in a one-sport conference. I think we’re moving in a really good direction with Don.”

Hastings was an assistant coach under Lucia at Minnesota for one year. Northern Michigan coach Grant Potulny was also a Lucia assistant and former player.

Lucia officially begins his duties on July 1. He said his tasks in the year prior to play include compiling a conference staff, coming up with a scheduling model, figuring out referees and the CCHA brand.

Lucia, who splits time between Minnesota and Alaska, hinted that the CCHA might not have a home office — something we've learned during this time of COVID that many can do without — and that he plans on attending games every weekend during the season.