Athletic Director Barry Alvarez announced early Friday morning that head coach Mike Eaves would not be retained after 14 years at the helm.
"After last season, because of the success we've had in the past, we felt that Mike had earned a chance to get the ship righted,” Alvarez said. “But now, after back-to-back seasons like the last two we've had, I feel we need a change.”
Eaves won a national championship in 2006 with Wisconsin behind goalie Brian Elliott, who now plays with the St. Louis Blues and forward Joe Pavelski, a member of the San Jose Sharks.
Eaves also starred as a player for Wisconsin in the ’70s, winning a national championship in 1977. He was also a two-time All-American center for the Badgers.
"I told Mike I appreciated the work he's done here," Alvarez said. "I also told him that we have great tradition and standards here in hockey. He's the gate-keeper of hockey. I'm the gate-keeper of the department. We both have a responsibility."
Wisconsin compiled consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1995-1997. Eaves, who was hired before the 2002-2003 season, had a losing season his first year, but then made the NCAA Tournament in both 2004 and 2005. In addition to winning it all in ’06, the Badgers lost in the national championship game in 2010.
"I like Mike and I respect Mike," Alvarez said. "All those things play into it. That's what makes it very hard.”
After winning the WCHA in 2013 and then the Big Ten in 2014, Wisconsin quickly fell off, going 4-26-5, its worst season in the modern era. The Badgers improved, but only slightly, this year, going 8-19-8 and finishing in the Big Ten cellar. They were bounced in the first round of the conference tournament by Penn State.
Eaves finishes his career at UW with a 267-225-66 record as head coach.
"Our fans and everyone expect more," Alvarez said. "With our facilities and what we have to sell, we feel we should be at a championship level."
“It's just not acceptable at Wisconsin to have a hockey program in this state where we are right now."
A national search for a new coach will begin immediately. There has been some speculation about women’s hockey head coach Mark Johnson making the transition to the men’s team, who was passed over for the job when Eaves was hired. However, with the success of the women’s program, it's possible Johnson may be content where he's at.
UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.
