A former Mavericks player and captain, he became an assistant coach for his alma mater in 2000, when Troy Jutting took over as head coach for the retiring Don Brose. Blue spent 12 seasons with Jutting and then, after Jutting was fired, stayed on with Mike Hastings (and fellow assistant Todd Knott) for nine seasons. I'm sure it was a thrill for him to be behind the bench as the Mavericks became a powerhouse in the WCHA and eventually made it to the Division I Frozen Four for the first time last April.
On Monday, Minnesota State announced that Blue is stepping away from the bench to take a job in the private sector. For a lot of people, it will be strange not to see him around the rink. There simply aren't that many people who have been associated with the program for more years than he. Brose started the program and coached for 30 years. Jutting was a four-year player and a 10-year assistant before taking the reins for a dozen years. Paul Allan has been in athletic communications at the university since 1985.
"Darren Blue has been synonymous with Maverick hockey for over two decades. ..." Hastings said in a press release. "His integrity, class and passion for Maverick hockey and the city of Mankato has helped build our program to where it is today. ... (He) has been instrumental from day one on helping me understand what it means to be a Maverick."
Blue literally helped build MSU into a Division I program. As a player in the 1990s, he led efforts to whip up community support for the building of the downtown arena the Mavericks eventually called home. When the facility was being renovated to become MSU's everyday home in 2015, Blue's penchant for detail was often noted in the design of the new locker rooms, offices and training areas. (It certainly makes sense, then, that his next move is to be a business strategist for the sports and recreation business unit at ISG.)
Blue has been the connection between the hockey program and its alumni, finding ways to keep them involved with the the program well beyond their playing days and even making sure they completed their college degrees. (It will be interesting to see if, perhaps, Hastings hires a former MSU player to replace Blue, and, if so, who might be a candidate.)
"It's hard to believe 21 years in this position have gone by so fast," Blue said in a statement. "I think that's a testament to the quality of people and players I have had the opportunity to work with during this time."
