Wisconsin lost a legendary hockey coach this past season, when Jeff Sauer coached his final regular-season game as head coach of the men's team March 2. In his 20-year tenure with the Badgers, Sauer recorded 489 wins, becoming the winningest coach in UW history.
Sauer coached the team to two of the school's five NCAA Championship titles, in 1983 and 1990. Sauer's win in 1983 was in his first year as head coach of UW after 11 seasons at Colorado College.
In his career at UW, Sauer saw many of his former players in NHL action, including Detroit Red Wings defender Chris Chelios, San Jose Sharks defenseman Gary Suter and, more recently, Atlanta Thrashers forward Dany Heatley and Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Reinprecht.
Mike Eaves, who played at Wisconsin from 1974 to 1978, will replace Sauer as head coach for the Badgers.
