Brian Idalski has been named coach of the Syracuse women’s program, the school announced on Tuesday.
Idalski was previously coach of the PWHL’s Vancouver Goldeneyes, leading the expansion team through its inaugural season. He was named USCHO National Coach of the Year for the 2022-23 season while leading the St. Cloud State women’s hockey program. He also has head coaching experience at North Dakota, Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Russia’s Zhenskaya Hockey League. He also served as China’s head coach for the Beijing Olympics in 2022.
At North Dakota and St. Cloud, Idalski sported a 219-206-48 overall record.
“Syracuse Women’s Hockey has tremendous potential, and I look forward to building strong relationships and a culture of accountability, development, and relentless competitiveness,” Idalski said via statement. “(We) will work to make the Orange a program everyone is proud of.”
At Stevens Point, Idalski went 108-21-11 (.881) in five seasons. He was named NCHA Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2005 and led the team to the 2004 NCAA D-III championship game.
“Brian Idalski is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in the sport, and we are thrilled to welcome him, his wife Nicole and their boys to Syracuse,” said Syracuse athletic director Bryan B. Blair in a statement. “His track record speaks for itself — a proven program-builder who wins at every level, from the NCAA to the Olympics. Just as important, he has a track record of developing complete student-athletes who succeed in the classroom and beyond. This is an exciting moment for the future of Syracuse women’s ice hockey.”
Idalski enjoyed a long playing career as a defenseman, spending two seasons with Columbus in the CHL and two with the Madison Monsters in the United Hockey League.