Herb

Brooks

American ice hockey player and coach Herb Brooks is best known for his role as the head coach of the gold medal-winning “Miracle on Ice” 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Brooks attended the University of Minnesota, playing under legendary coach John Mariucci and went on to play for several national and Olympic hockey teams between 1962 and 1970. After representing his country in two Olympic Games as a player without earning a medal, he began coaching the sport, and eventually became head coach at his alma mater, leading the Gophers from last place to a national championship in just two years. The coach won a total of three NCAA titles with the University of Minnesota before getting hired to coach the 1980 U.S. Men’s Ice Hockey Team leading up to the Olympic Winter Games Lake Placid 1980. Brooks led the Americans to a stunning upset over defending champions, the Soviet Union, which became known as the “Miracle on Ice” and was named the best sporting event of the 20th century. Brooks also coached in the National Hockey League and was named NHL Coach of the Year three years after his NHL coaching debut. He coached a number of different professional, international and university teams, and led the United States team to the silver medal at the Salt Lake City 2002 Games. Brooks passed away on Aug. 11, 2003 due to a car accident in his home state of Minnesota. A statue was erected in his honor in St. Paul, and Brooks was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame posthumously.