Former UMD men’s hockey coach Mike Sertich passes away at 77

A representative from UMD men’s hockey has reported that former head coach Mike Sertich passed away on Thursday August 8 at the age of 77 in Duluth. Sertich originally played as a defenseman from 1965 to 1969 on the Bulldogs and then later served as the team’s head coach for 18 years from 1982 to 2000.

During that time, Sertich lead the program to three Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season titles, two league playoff championships and four NCAA postseason berths. In 1984, Sertich was also the recipient of the Spencer Penrose Award. In 2005, he was inducted into UMD’S Hall of Fame.

Sertich, a Virginia native, later went on to coach at Michigan Tech University from 2000 to 2003. Starting in 2010, he became a volunteer coach at the College of St. Scholastica for three seasons.

In 2023, he was presented with the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum’s Spirit of Life Award.

A release from UMD men’s hockey states:

Sertich is survived by his daughter Lori (Derek Fredrickson) and two sons John (Heidi) and Scott (Tammy) and grandchildren Danny, Shjon, Lauren, Elise, Sophia and brother Steve Sertich. Coach Sertich asked that in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to the UMD Coach Mike Sertich Men’s Hockey Scholarship. Donations can be made by visiting https://z.umn.edu/SertichFund or mailed to the UMD Advancement Office.