...................................Head Coach

Leo Golembiewski

(Coach G.)

......A nominee to the USA Hockey Hall of Fame, Head Coach Leo Golembiewski came to Tucson in 1979 to establish a serious intercollegiate hockey program at the University of Arizona. As a high school hockey coach a Lyons Township in LaGrange, Illinois, he accumulated a record of 302 wins, 43 losses, and 12 ties from 1972-1979. ......On January 9, 2009 Coach G won his 600th collegiate victory at the University of Arizona recording a 608-186-23 record by the end of the 2008-2009 season. His teams have participated in 23 National Collegiate Club Hockey Tournaments. They won the National Championship in 1985 and have made 8 Final Fours and 10 Elite Eights appearances. ......Coach G graduated from Benet Academy (H.S.) in Lisle, Illinois and received a B.A. in History and a Teacher Certification from Benedictine University (formerly St. Procopius College) in 1971. He was the St. Procopius Eagles' starting goaltender for 4 years establishing 5 playing records. His senior year was capped by being to the Midwest Intercollegiate Hockey League's All Star Team. He was also named his team's most valuable player, leading the Eagles to the MIHL playoff championship. ......Coach G was an invite to the St. Louis Blues pro training camp in 1971 held in Flint, Michigan. In 1972 he was a member of the St. Louis Blues rookie camp at the Arena in St. Louis. There began his affiliation with the Blue's organization and his mentoring by many of their coaches, players and staff. ......Considered a protegee of Scotty Bowman - the coach with the most wins in NHL history - who has won Stanley Cups in Montreal, Pittsburgh and Detroit, Coach credits much of his success to Bowman's influence and knowledge. Longtime friend, teammate and NHL head coach, Jimmy Roberts and Hall of Fame goaltender, Glenn Hall, have also contributed significantly to Coach G's successes as a player and coach. Solid legendary hockey people - Emile Francis, the late Sid Able and the late Lynn Patrick have influenced his coaching style and philosophy about the game. ......Receiving a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Arizona in 1981, Coach G feels very fortunate to be a part of such a great community and school like Tucson and the University of Arizona. He taught American Government at Salpoint Catholic High School and is an Oblate of St. Benedict at Holy Trinity Monastery in St. David, AZ. He works with Clarence Dupnik and the Pima County Sheriff Department's D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program and holds an annual golf tournament each August. Coach G was inducted into the Pima County Sport Hall of Fame in 1996 and inducted as a charter member of the Benedictine University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. He also appeared in "Mr. Warmth - The Don Rickles Project", a movie directed by John Landis which won two Emmy Awards in 2009. He and Paula have been married over 30 years and he considers her support and understanding as key factors to his personal success.

St. Louis Blues rookie camp at the Arena in St. Louis

Coach G - 1972

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