Mike Babcock resigns from head coaching role at University of Saskatchewan

Former NHL coach Mike Babcock has stepped down from his position as the head coach of the University of Saskatchewan men’s hockey team, according to the Huskies team.

Babcock spent just one season in the role, coaching the Huskies to a 14-9 record before losing to the Calgary Dinos in the Canada West quarterfinals. He will be replaced by Brandin Cote, one of his assistant coaches.

“I’m excited for Brandin and his family. He is prepared to be a highly successful coach,” said Babcock in a statement. “I believe he will elevate the Huskies play and profile even further. I look forward to seeing him continue down the path of what promises to be an incredible career.”

Along with Cote’s experience with Babcock behind the bench, he also spent four seasons playing under the longtime NHL coach on the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League from 1996 to 2000.

“I’d like to thank Mike Babcock for his mentorship and commitment to the program over the past year,” Cote said in a statement. “I look forward to building upon the rich foundation of history and excellence that is synonymous with Huskie men’s hockey.”

Babcock spent parts of 17 seasons in the NHL as the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He coached those teams to a combined record of 700-418-19-164 over the course of 1,301 games, only missing the playoffs twice in his career, and winning the Stanley Cup in 2008 with the Red Wings. He also coached the Canadian Olympic team to gold medals in both 2010 and 2014, as well as to a World Cup victory in 2016.

Babcock was infamously fired from the Leafs in 2019 after the team started below expectations following playoff disappointment in previous seasons, many citing Babcock’s unwillingness to adapt as a reason for their playoff losses. Following his departure, stories surfaced of his mistreatment of players, including verbally and mentally abusing them, and healthy scratching them ahead of important milestone games. Former Red Wing Johan Franzen spoke out about how he was the worst person he’d ever met, and current Leaf Mitch Marner was notably asked to rank his teammates based on work ethic, a list which Babcock later showed to the rest of the Leafs locker room.