On April 19, Garrett Raboin was named the first men's hockey coach at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. Unlike other NCAA Division I programs, Raboin has the unique experience of starting a program where there has never been hockey before. He has spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota and spent six seasons before that as an assistant coach for Motzko at St. Cloud State University, where he played defense from 2006-10. Raboin discusses many of the challenges that he is facing with his new job, shares some fun memories from coaching and his playing days and more on this podcast with The Rink Live's Jess Myers and Mick Hatten.
TIME STAMPS
What the last eight days have been like since being named head coach
1:00 The AHCA convention takeaways
2:15 His dad, Bruce Raboin, a former Detroit Lakes head boys hockey coach
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3:20 His favorite memories from the 2021-22 Gophers season
4:50 How did he decide to apply at Augustana
6:20 How much influence will he have with helping the arena being built on campus
7:30 What he will be doing in the next year without having a team to coach
8:20 His relationship with Bob Motzko
9:35 Hiring an assistant coach and where Augustana is at in the process
11:15 Conversations about a possible conference membership
12:20 What is the style of play he wants to see as a head coach
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13:45 The transfer portal opportunities, trying not to have an all-freshman roster
15:30 Reaching out to coaches, who have made the program move to Division I
16:20 Good spot for recruiting geographically
17:20 Moving his family, seeing South Dakota tourist sites
18:45 His kids joining Sioux Falls Youth Hockey, where to hunt and fish in South Dakota
21:25 Personality traits being sought in first recruits
23:00 Player superstitions — Nic Dowd comes to mind
24:20 Hearing from SCSU connections
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25:45 How soon he visited Augustana after Gophers season ended
27:00 Going through the application process for the first time
28:15 Memories of a big comeback at Penn State
30:30 Helping two programs reach the Frozen Four