Hakstol signs six-year extension at North Dakota through ’17-18 season

North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol signed a new six-year contract Thursday that will keep him behind the Fighting Sioux bench through the 2017-18 season.

Through his first eight seasons as UND head coach, Hakstol has become the third-winningest coach in program history, compiling a 213-106-30 overall record and a 129-75-20 mark in WCHA play.

“I’m pleased to have the opportunity to continue working and living in what I consider to be the best environment in hockey,” Hakstol said in a news release. “I’m particularly grateful for the confidence [North Dakota AD] Brian Faison has shown in me and my staff. We’re here to win and to do it the right way.”

A six-time finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award, Hakstol has guided the Sioux to five Frozen Four appearances, four WCHA Final Five playoff championships, two WCHA regular-season titles and has advanced to the NCAA postseason in each of his eight years. He was named WCHA coach of the year in 2008-09.

Hakstol is the fourth UND head coach in the past 43 years and just the fifth former Sioux player to also become head coach at North Dakota.