Steve Freeman begins this season, his 14th as head coach, as the leader of one of the elite powerhouse programs in the nation.

Freeman received his ninth Coach of the Year award when he was named the WIAC Coach of the Year for the seventh time in his career in 2008. He coached the Falcons to their fifth straight WIAC Championship and seventh championship in the past nine seasons.

He is the winningest coach in UW-River Falls hockey history and that was accomplished in just six seasons, the shortest period of time of any UWRF coach. Freeman has led the Falcons to 246 wins during his tenure. His teams have averaged nearly 20 wins a season over his 13 years, with a 25 game regular season schedule. In the NCAA Div. III, Freeman is seventh in winning percentage (.672) of active coaches and 10th of all-time coaches. His 246 career wins ranks him 15th in the NCAA Div. III. He has accomplished that ranking despite having coached fewer seasons than any other coach in the top 20 list.

Freeman has coached in a Falcon program that has played in five NCAA Frozen Four National Championships, 11 NCAA National Tournaments and 12 NCHA Peters Cup Final Tournaments. He was named the NCHA Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2003 and was the WIAC Coach of the Year in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Freeman was the No. 1 assistant for seven years and has always played a key role in the team’s great success. His recruiting and leadership over the years have made the Falcons a powerhouse in Div. III hockey. The Falcons won the 1994 NCAA National Championship and participated in the NCAA Frozen Four in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2001. The Falcons placed second in 1993, were third in 1995 and 1996 and placed fourth in 2001.

His work ethic and enthusiasm for the game has helped create a winning atmosphere in the Falcons locker room where players know what is expected from them both on and off the ice.

Freeman, a career coach, draws on his vast coaching experience from stops at the high school, Junior A and college levels to teach and motivate. He previously was a head coach/general manager in the United States Hockey League. He served as head coach at St. Mary's Springs High School where his team won a State championship. He also had great success at Stevens Point High School where his teams made several state tournament appearances. He led his teams to four conference championships. He has also coached select teams in international competition.

The New Brighton, Minn., native played hockey through the high school, Junior A and college levels.

He has been involved with hockey symposiums and clinics both in the United States and internationally. He has often been a guest speaker/instructor at U.S.A. Hockey clinics.

Freeman has a master's degree in education and professional development and is a respected instructor in the Health and Human Performance department.

He and wife Deb reside in River Falls.

Steve Freeman

Steve Freeman has a
record 246 career
wins at UWRF.