TROY, Mich. – University of Michigan-Dearborn Head Coach Chris Haltinner has been named the 2019 American Collegiate Hockey Association Men's Division I Coach of the Year. Haltinner becomes the first recipient of the award from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Haltinner was chosen from among a group of finalists that included Lindenwood University's Rick Zombo, Chad Berman of the University of Arizona, Gary Astalos of Adrian College, and Kirk Handy, head coach of Liberty University.
The 2018-19 Wolverines finished the season with 30 wins, the most for Haltinner in his six years leading the program. UM-Dearborn put together win streaks of 10 games and 17 games, while holding the ranking of No. 2 in the ACHA from November, through the end of the regular season.
The Wolverines captured the 2018-19 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season title with a 9-1 league record. Haltinner was named the WHAC Coach of the Year earlier this season. The WHAC is set to join the ACHA next season.
In six seasons, Haltinner has restored UM-Dearborn to its place as a premier program in the ACHA. He has a career record of 136-72-11 and has taken the Wolverines to the ACHA Division I National Tournament each of the last four seasons, with the team advancing to the national semifinals last month. The semifinal appearance marked the best result for the Wolverines in the tournament since the event's first season in 1991-92, when UM-Dearborn finished as the national runner up.
Haltinner's Wolverines won the 2015-16 and 2016-17 GLCHL Playoff Tournament titles, while also capturing the 2017-18 WHAC Postseason Tournament title. His team has excelled in the classroom as well, with seven Wolverines earning ACHA Scholar-Athlete honors this season.
UM-Dearborn's assistant coaching staff, including Rick DeSana, Mike Scarpello and Rich Gauthier, has been instrumental in the recent success of the Wolverine program.
Prior to taking the head coaching position at UM-Dearborn, Haltinner worked as a goalie coach and later as an assistant coach for the Wolverines. He started his coaching career working at the Mitch Korn Goalie Camps. Haltinner also serves as the University of Michigan-Dearborn Athletics Admissions Liaison.
Chris Haltinner attended Henry Ford Community College and Schoolcraft College where he studied Emergency Medical Services firefighting/paramedic. Chris and his wife Stephanie, a Physician at the University of Michigan Hospital, reside in Canton, Mich., with their son, Landen.
CHRIS HALTINNER'S CAREER COLLEGIATE COACHING RECORD
Year Wins Losses Ties Win%
2013-14 20 22 1 46.5
2014-15 18 22 3 41.8
2015-16 22 9 2 66.6
2016-17 24 8 1 72.7
2017-18 22 7 2 70.9
2018-19 30 4 1 85.7
TOTALS 136 72 11 62.1
Recipients of the ACHA Men's Division 1 Coach of the Year Award
2000 Joe Battista Penn State University
2001* Josh Brandwene University of Delaware
2001* Bob Zion Eastern Michigan University
2002 Joe Battista Penn State University
2003 Chad Cassel University of Illinois
2004 Dan Morris Ohio University
2005 Joe Augustine University of Rhode Island
2006 Joe Augustine University of Rhode Island
2007 Scott Balboni Penn State University
2008 Chad Cassel University of Illinois
2009 Craig McAlister University of Central Oklahoma
2010 Jeremy Goltz Arizona State University
2011 Dan Phelps Adrian College
2012 M.F. Schurman University of Delaware
2013 Wade Regier Minot State University
2014 Greg Powers Arizona State University
2015 Craig McAlister University of Central Oklahoma
2016 Rick Zombo Lindenwood University
2017 Wade Regier Minot State University
2018 Gary Astalos Adrian College
2019 Chris Haltinner University of Michigan-Dearborn
* Co-recipients
