Michigan Naurato promotes to full-time head hockey coach

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Brandon Naurato was promoted from interim to full-time head coach of Michigan's hockey team Friday.

Naurato has led the Big Ten Tournament champion Wolverines to the Frozen Four — in which they play Quinnipiac on April 6 — after being named interim coach in August.

The university said Naurato's five-year deal will be finalized after the tournament. Naurato took over after Mel Pearson was dismissed following a report that concluded Pearson and the program had “cultural issues” that “require attention.”

“I am thrilled that Brandon Naurato will continue to lead our ice hockey program, and it is with that knowledge that I am incredibly excited for the future of this storied program,” said Warde Manuel, Michigan’s athletic director.

From Livonia, Naurato played for Michigan from 2005-09, helping the Wolverines reach the NCAA Tournament all four seasons. He returned to the school last season as an assistant after three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings as a player development consultant. He also had an eight-year run at USA Hockey in player development.