Tim Coghlin, who led St. Norbert College to a 27-1-4 record and the school’s first NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey National Championship, has been named the winner of the 2008 Edward Jeremiah Award, given annually to the Men’s Division III Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. Coghlin, who completed his 15th season as head coach of the Green Knights, becomes the first St. Norbert coach to win the honor.

After compiling the best regular season record in school history, St. Norbert made NCAA history by winning the championship behind back-to-back shutouts, 3-0 over Norwich in the semifinals and 2-0 over Plattsburgh in the championship game. This had never been done before and their single loss on the season was the lowest of any previous NCAA Division III men’s champion.

Coghlin, a native of Summerland, British Columbia, has a career record of 322-92-35 in 15 seasons. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where he captained the Pointers’ first national championship team in 1989. He was an assistant coach when UWSP won again in 1993. As a player, Coghlin was a two-time All-American at defense who enjoyed a brief professional career, signing with Vancouver and playing for the Milwaukee Admirals. he also spent a year as a player-coach in England.

The Edward Jeremiah Award is named in honor of the great Dartmouth College head coach and was first presented in 1970. The runners-up for this year’s Edward Jeremiah Award were Bob Emery of SUNY Plattsburgh and Tim Ceglarski of Elmira College.

The Coach of the Year Awards are chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). Winners will receive their awards at the annual AHCA Coach of the Year Banquet, held in conjunction with the AHCA Convention in Naples, FL. This year’s banquet is scheduled for Saturday, April 26.