Minnesota State has reassigned coach Troy Jutting within the athletic department until his contract expires and will look for a new coach, the school announced Sunday night.
Jutting, a former player and assistant coach with the Mavericks, was about to enter the final year of his contract, which expires June 30, 2013.
“This is the right time to make a change, and we’re committed to taking our men’s hockey program to new heights,” school president Richard Davenport said in a statement. “Part of our emerging national prominence as a university is raising our level of competitiveness in men’s hockey and all of our sports.”
Jutting had a 184-224-55 record in 12 seasons as head coach, which followed 10 seasons as an assistant.
The Mavericks have had four straight losing seasons, with a 12-24-2 record in 2011-12. They had three winning seasons in Jutting’s tenure — 2000-01, 2002-03 and 2007-08.
Jutting won the WCHA’s coach of the year award in 2003 and 2008. Minnesota State played in the NCAA tournament in 2003.
Davenport and Minnesota State athletic director Kevin Buisman will begin a coaching search immediately, the school announced.
“I commend Coach Jutting’s loyalty, service and commitment to the program,” Buisman said in a statement. “He went about his business with a steadfast determination, as he worked very hard to make his teams competitive in what is currently one of the best college hockey conferences in the country. His character and professional integrity were unwavering and the welfare and personal development of his players were always a top priority.”
Jutting, who played for Minnesota State, will be a special assistant to the president, potentially being involved in fundraising, marketing, program development, capital projects and community relations, according to the school.
“I am excited about beginning a different set of duties and responsibilities and look forward to the new challenges they will offer,” Jutting said in a statement. “This community and Minnesota State has meant a lot to me over the years. I appreciate the opportunity to have worked with so many outstanding young men and with the other coaches and staff members within Maverick Athletics.
“I leave this position with a lot of great memories and am extremely proud of the work we’ve done in ensuring that our student-athletes have earned degrees, have become successful professionally and are serving as community leaders. We’ve accomplished a lot in the last 12 years with the game of hockey in creating an environment in which the program went to the NCAA Division I postseason for the first time and our players have had a chance to achieve their goals of playing the game at its highest levels professionally.”
There was no immediate word about the status of associate head coach Darren Blue and assistant coach Todd Knott.
