It seems fitting that my last post on The Yost Post would be about the contract extension for Michigan head coach Red Berenson on Monday.

Red has been coaching at the University of Michigan since 1984, the year I was born! I recently met him for the first time at a retirement party for a mutual friend. He was everything I thought he would be. Someone to look up to, a great story teller, smart and funny—he told me to watch out for hockey players then followed it up with some are real good guys! Correct on both, Red!

He’s had a wonderful career to keep building upon having played his college hockey at Michigan for three seasons (60-62) was an All-American twice and team captain.

He played in the NHL for 17 years with various teams (Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and the Detroit Red Wings) before coaching the Blues and winning the Jack Adams Award for NHL Coach of the Year in 1981.

Under Red, the Wolverines have been to the Frozen Four 11 times, won 2 NCAA Championships, 11 regular season CCHA titles, 9 CCHA Tournament titles and have gone to the NCAA Tournament the last 21 years straight—the longest streak in college hockey.

From the Detroit Free Press:

“I’m pleased that the administration and the program are looking ahead,” Berenson said in a released statement. “I’m excited about the opportunity to remain at Michigan, especially with the current Yost renovations, the move to the Big Ten and for our incoming recruits. We have a great staff here, and I’m looking forward to the next few years at Michigan.”

“Red is an icon in the sport and the one of the most recognizable names in college hockey,” athletic director Dave Brandon said in the statement. “We are glad that he agreed to continue leading our hockey program for the foreseeable future. Red’s dedication to Michigan and our program is a major reason for our success. I’m excited that he will continue molding the lives of the young men who skate for Michigan.”

There’s a pretty impressive list of guys playing in the NHL or in professional hockey who learned from him. The list will keep growing, thankfully!