Spartan Hockey Promotes from Within

Former Western Michigan goalie Brian Renfrew stepped up a notch for the Michigan State hockey program, earning the position of Associate Head Coach.

The goaltending for Michigan State hockey should continue its excellence with the promotion of Brian Renfrew to Associate Head Coach.

A former goaltender for Western Michigan in his playing days (1991-95), Renfrew has been on the Spartan staff for five seasons; four of those Green and White squads headed to the NCAA playoffs and the last three have been to the regional finals, not to mention the team's national championship run in 2007.

“I’m proud to be part of such a strong program with outstanding tradition, and I feel we’re continuing to build on that tradition of excellence here at Michigan State,” Renfrew said in a news release.

“Brian is a quality young assistant with a bright future as a hockey coach,” head coach Rick Comley said. “He has been a very valuable member of our staff in what has been a very successful stretch for our hockey program.”

Renfrew has been a major component in the development of Spartan goalie and Hobey Baker Award nominee Jeff Lerg, who ranks sixth in NCAA tournament history in career victories.

In addition to mentoring goalies, Renfrew is involved with recruiting, coaching defenseman and other day-to-day duties, such as game-day strategy and video analysis.

Prior to arriving at MSU, Renfrew coached for a couple of seasons at Northern Michigan (2001-03) and before that at Alaska-Fairbanks (1999-2001), his hometown.