Two-time USHL coach-of-the-year Anthony Noreen will be the next to attempt to lead Miami University hockey back toward its former glory.
On March 19, Miami announced it had parted ways with head hockey coach Chris Bergeron after five years at the helm of the team. On April 1, the University announced that it hired Noreen to be the program’s seventh head coach.
“Such a great and promising hire for the program,” Kiefer Sherwood, a six-year NHL pro and former RedHawk who played under Noreen in Youngstown, said in a news release.
Noreen has 13 years of head coaching experience, but this will be his first time at the helm of a college team. His first head coaching job he held from 2011-2015 with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the top junior league in the United States. Then Noreen spent 2015-2017 with the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, North America’s third-tier professional league. Noreen has spent the last seven seasons as the head coach for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, compiling a record of 236-126-24-18, qualifying for the playoffs in each of his seven seasons and twice winning USHL coach of the year..
During Bergeron’s time with the RedHawks, from 2019 to 2024, Miami never finished higher than seventh (of eight) in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), widely considered to be the best conference in college hockey. After finishing seventh in the conference in Bergeron’s first season, Miami finished last in each of the next four. Despite a 6-3-1 non-conference record in 2023-24, Miami finished with a conference record of 1-21-2, the worst in Bergeron’s time at Miami.
“Parting ways with Coach Bergeron is a decision based on a complete analysis of his tenure as head coach at Miami,” David Sayler, Miami director of athletics, said in a press release.
Bergeron was at Miami for a total of 19 years as student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach. He played at Miami from 1989-93 and was a team captain for two years. As a senior, Bergeron led Miami with 61 points on 21 goals and 40 assists and was named Miami’s Most Outstanding Senior. He played seven professional seasons but never made the NHL, before returning to Miami as an assistant coach in 2000. He was an assistant at Miami until 2010, including when Miami narrowly lost to Boston University in the 2009 national championship.
He was hired to be the head coach of Bowling Green State University before the 2010 season, and he stayed there until 2019 when he took the Miami job. He finished with an all-time record of 132-81-30 at Bowling Green, one time making the NCAA tournament.
“There’s no one I would have rather played for over the last three seasons,” said PJ Fletcher, a forward for Miami who will graduate this May. “Even when things weren’t going well this season, we always stayed together and it was never miserable. He’s a big part of that. He’s had my back so I have his back forever.”
Noreen will have his work cut out building the RedHawks back to what they once were, but he’s known success in his career so far.
Twice under Noreen, the Storm had the best regular season record in the USHL. Noreen was named the league’s coach of the year for those two seasons. In 2021-2022, Noreen’s squad broke the USHL record for wins in a season. Noreen simultaneously held the role of general manager and later president of hockey operations for the Storm. In 2022 he coached the United States under-18 team to a fifth place finish in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
“I am reminded of a famous quote by Wayne Gretzky, where he said, ‘Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been,’” Sayler said. “We set out to find someone that is adept at bringing high-end talent into their program, developing that talent on and off the ice, and communicating clearly to forge a strong culture and win hockey games.”
Miami has already lost four players to the transfer portal since the end of the 2023-24 season, including three top defensemen. Three more of Miami’s top players joined the pro ranks after the season, including captain defenseman Jack Clement, leading scorer forward Matthew Barbolini and Fletcher. The RedHawks also graduated multiple other players, including starting goaltender Logan Neaton.
Sherwood said in Miami’s press release. “I owe a lot of my development to Anthony and the way he grew my game on the ice but also my character and confidence off the ice. He brings a contagious passion and energy that unites people. Ecstatic for Miami and the times ahead.”
