Mailbag question: How much longer will Red coach the hockey program?

Posted at 4:00pm -- 12/8/2009



Mailbag question: How much longer will Red coach the hockey program?
GBMW,

How much longer do you guys believe Red will continue to coach at Michigan?

Do they have some type of deal with one of the assistant coaches to take over or will they look around when Red retires.

I am not saying he should or not just curious to see what you guys think.

Do recruits notice this stuff yet or bring it up why or why not they choose Michigan?

Who do you think will be a top coach to replace Red in a few years ... Well hopefully a few more years and a couple more banners in Yost.

Fred R.

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Thanks for the question.

Fred, those are interesting questions. I'd like to think I know the answers, but I really don't. But here is what I think will happen, based on being around the program as long as I have:

The general theory is, Red Berenson will coach as long as he wants to. He truly enjoys teaching the guys and is still in very good shape. There has been speculation every year that he will step down, but I don't see that happening unless his health becomes an issue.

It doesn't mean that other factors could change that decision, but at this point he still enjoys what he is doing and the Administration has given him the choice to run his program as he sees fit.

The most frustration I have seen from the coach is not from losses, but from the constant pressure from the NHL/pro's to take kids out of the program before he thinks they are ready. He truly believes in the Michigan education and still uses that as a recruiting tool. He has always maintained that he will "drive the kid to the airport" if he thinks they are ready to leave the program. Red may be old school, but this game has not passed him by. He is loved by his players, past and present, and enjoys the environment.

If you don't think he is still competitive, you don't know Red. He is well respected in the league and in college hockey and his input to changes is still highly regarded.

Even with the on set of a new A.D. On the horizon, Berenson is a Michigan icon and will go out on his terms. The program Berenson has built is self funded- meaning that the revenues taken at Yost or from donations or scholarships cover most or all of the costs for the program.

His record speaks for itself- 19 straight NCAA appearances, 7 or 8 Frozen Four appearances, 2 National Championships. Multiple CCHA Regular Season/Tourney Championships. Multiple GLI Tourney Championships. Those are huge shoes to fill, and with the instability of the football program right now, the last thing the Administration is going to do is push for a change at Yost.

But, if Red decides to leave, the continuity of the program is paramount to him, as it was to Bo Schembechler. I would guess that he would turn it over to one of his assistants, either Billy Powers or Mel Pearson, with Pearson maybe the preferred choice. Red has essentially turned recruiting over to the both of them for the past ten years, unless they have a kid that Red really wants and will visit him.

Both assistants are well qualified and have been with Red for many years. It would hard to say that both would continue to stay. They both have been offered other opportunities and have turned them down to remain at Michigan. So, recruits would see a seamless change, although the change would be as noticeable as when Bo stepped down.

Top recruits these days are looking for the best route to the next level, and if they choose Michigan, it is based on the entire stability of the program, the history, the alumni base in the NHL and the atmosphere COMPARED to what the Major Junior Canadian Hockey League I.e. The OHL etc. Is offering.

Few come to any college program because of the coach and few stay because of the coach. That is how things have evolved today. It may be an exception for Red, but based on the amount of early departures or recruiting defections, it doesn't appear to be as big a factor as twenty years ago.

To read in todays Detroit News article on Red: Coach Red Berenson at age 70 still going strong Michigan Hockey

Thank you for following Michigan Hockey on GBMW.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!