It’s been a while — 16 years, to be exact — but Mike Guentzel is coming back to coach hockey in Omaha.

The former Omaha Lancers head coach will return as an assistant at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Guentzel was the Lancers’ head coach in 1992-93 and 1993-94, guiding the team to consecutive postseason championships in the United States Hockey League.

“I remember the passion the city of Omaha had for hockey from back in my Lancers days,’’ he said. “I’m looking forward to coming back.’’

Guentzel’s return will reunite him with UNO assistant Mike Hastings, who coached for the Lancers under Guentzel before eventually becoming the team’s head coach.

“Mike and I go way back,’’ Guentzel said. “I think it’s a great situation, and I’m looking forward to it.’’

A native of Grand Rapids, Minn., Guentzel played collegiately at Minnesota before beginning his coaching career as an assistant with the St. Paul Vulcans (now Tri-City Storm) of the USHL during the 1988-89 season. He then became head coach of the club for three seasons, leading them to the Junior “A” national title in 1991.

Guentzel then took over as the head coach for the Lancers and led them to a league-best 35-13-0 record and the Anderson Cup as regular-season champions during the 1992-93 season. Omaha also captured the Clark Cup as postseason champion that year, and repeated that feat during the 1993-94 season.

He had a winning record in all five seasons as a USHL head coach, posting a 151-80-8 mark.

Guentzel left the Lancers after the 1993-94 season and returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach at Minnesota, where in 14 seasons he helped the Gophers capture two NCAA titles. He left the Gophers to become an assistant at Colorado College in 2008-09 and was the head coach of the Des Moines Bucs of the USHL last season.

“It was disappointing that Des Moines missed the playoffs this year,’’ he said. “The team had won 12 games the year before, and we won 20 games this season.’’

Guentzel said he was looking forward to the opportunity to coach with UNO head coach Dean Blais. They were on opposing sides for several years in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) when Blais was the head coach at North Dakota and Guentzel was at Minnesota.

“Dean’s teams were always so well prepared,’’ Guentzel said. “I have a ton of respect for him.’’

Guentzel also will bring a wealth of knowledge from the WCHA, the league in which the Mavericks will be competing for the first time next season.

“I think the UNO program has a chance to achieve tremendous success in the league,’’ he said. “Those two guys (Blais and Hastings) have done a remarkable job already, and I know it’s going to get even better.’’

Guentzel will fill the coaching role previously held by Nick Fohr, who will become the team’s director of hockey operations. Fohr will take over for Dave Noel-Bernier, who is leaving UNO to take a job with the USHL.

Contact the writer:

444-1350, mike.patterson@owh.com

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