DULUTH, Minn. – The College of St. Scholastica has named Brenden Kotyk as the next head coach of its men's hockey program.
Kotyk returns to Duluth with six seasons of professional coaching experience in the ECHL, including two seasons as the head coach and director of hockey operations for the South Carolina Stingrays. He most recently served two seasons as an assistant coach with the Savannah Ghost Pirates.
A former St. Scholastica and University of Minnesota Duluth defenseman, Kotyk began his collegiate career with the Saints during the 2012-13 season. He recorded 19 points on seven goals and 12 assists in 25 games and led all Northern Collegiate Hockey Association rookie defensemen in scoring.
Kotyk transferred to UMD following his freshman season and played three seasons for the Bulldogs after sitting out the 2013-14 campaign due to NCAA transfer regulations. He was named an assistant captain as a senior and helped UMD win the 2017 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff championship and advance to the NCAA Division I national championship game.
"The legacy of men's hockey at St. Scholastica is rooted in tradition, pride and a strong connection to our community," Director of Athletics Jessica Cherry said. "We are excited to welcome Brenden Kotyk, whose energy and vision will carry that legacy forward, inspiring our student-athletes to excel on and off the ice and continue elevating the program."
Following his collegiate career, Kotyk played three professional seasons as a defenseman. He appeared in 151 regular-season ECHL games with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Toledo Walleye, producing 50 points on 20 goals and 30 assists. He also played seven games for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
Kotyk helped Toledo reach the Kelly Cup Finals in 2019 before beginning his coaching career with South Carolina ahead of the 2020-21 season. Working primarily with the Stingrays' defense and penalty kill, he helped the team advance to the 2021 Kelly Cup Finals during his first season as an assistant coach.
He was promoted to interim head coach late in the 2021-22 season and guided South Carolina to victories in seven of its final nine games. Kotyk was subsequently named the 11th head coach in franchise history and led the Stingrays for the following two seasons.
South Carolina posted a 94-56-8-4 record during Kotyk's tenure as head coach and captured the ECHL South Division championship during the 2022-23 season. He joined Savannah as an assistant coach in 2024 and worked primarily with the Ghost Pirates' defense and penalty-kill units.
A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Kotyk played junior hockey for the Humboldt Broncos and Dauphin Kings. He captained Dauphin and was named the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Top Defenseman after recording 62 points during the 2012-13 season.
Kotyk will relocate to Duluth with his wife, Hayley, and their dog, Bruno.
