What's Next For Northern Michigan? (2024)

June 20, 2024 PRINT

Program Will Struggle Following Exodus, But Comley Remains Optimistic as Coach Search Moves Quickly

by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor (@CHN_AdamWodon)

Rick Comley thought he'd seen it all in his 77years, including 38 as a head coach, two national championships, and more years as both an athletic director and NHL scout.

But is anybody really prepared for what's been happening to the landscape of NCAA sports?

And the new reality smacked Northern Michigan in the face over the last couple of weeks, when head coach Grant Potulny stepped down to pursue pro coaching options. (At this moment, he's yet to be signed anywhere.)

Many in the college hockey world wondered what was going on at Northern Michigan when they lost 13 players to the transfer portal right after last season. But in actuality, most of those were seniors looking to play a grad year, and after a disappointing 2023-24, Potulny was happy to make changes. His staff brought in a stellar recruiting class.

But perhaps seeing the handwriting on the wall, two assistants made moves in the spring. And then Potulny himself decided to get out.

As a result, all those top recruits have switched their commitment, and even more players have transferred, thanks to the new 30-day transfer window that opens when a coach leaves.

Now Comley, who was NMU athletic director from 1987-2000 and returned to that role in 2022, is in charge of putting the pieces back together again, and re-stocking what's now a pretty bare cupboard.

"The program's not broken. We're disrupted right now," Comley said.

"I'm not sure of how much you can save right now. Obviously we have multiple openings because of what's transpired. I want to rebuild it the right way. There's an urgency to be good, but at the same time you don't want the new person to rush into it, and a year from now we're back in the same situation."

Comley said he's trying to move things along, and have a new coach in place by the end of next week. There's a search committee in place and they've been interviewing prospects this week.

"We have a mix of ex-alums, new head coaches, ex-players, and others who like the idea of coaching college hockey," Comley said.

Some teams are benefiting from the changes. But there are few so-called "Power 5" schools in college hockey. At the end of the day, those few teams need others to play against. What that means going forward, is an open question.

"The big challenge for me is, knowing where it was, and trying to perceive where it will end up," Comley said. "No matter how big the Big Ten gets, they can't have a championship without schools like Northern Michigan and Clarkson. We're important to overall college hockey, so the more you decimate us, I'm afraid school presidents might look at it and eventually say, 'We're putting all this money into it, can we really win or be successful.' And I think that's a legitimate question.

"The element that's gone is, there used to be more of a concern about the sport within college hockey."

Comley made clear there is no hard feelings with Potulny, whatever the reason for Potulny's decision (attempts to reach Potulny have been unsuccessful). Potulny, the former Minnesota postseason hero, was head coach for seven seasons, winning 20 or more games four times. Last season ended in a disappointing 12-16-6 record.

"The timing of pro hockey is what it is," Comley said. "They're going to make decisions best for their organizations. He has interest (in pro hockey) and I support that, it's a good move for him. It leaves us in a hole, but that's not his fault.

"It was a very frustrating year for him in a lot of ways. I told him right from the beginning, Northern Michigan is a tough place to win at. It's a good place, but a tough place. And I felt his future was more in professional hockey than college hockey. I just let him know I wasn't offended by him talking. I talked to NHL teams for him, not that I wanted him to leave. I think everyone just reaches a point in their life where their assess 'what's best for me.' He's a pro mentality coach.

"All good, I'm happy for him, and we'll be finein the end. It's just tough right now."

There is concern among NMU fans that the team may not even have enough players for a full roster. Comley acknowledged this is very possible for this season, but said it's no reason to panic. He said the program will bounce back, it will just take time.

"We like to carry 28. I'm not sure we can get to 28," Comley said. "Once you give (a scholarship), they have it for four years. So you have to be careful about giving out money this time of year."

Going forward, will anything stop the train — quell the ever-widening gap between the haves and have nots?

"It's a double whammy because schools like us benefitted because they played schools like Michigan and Michigan State," Comley said. "So our attendance was enhanced by their presence. Now only do you not have their presence, but they are governing who goes where.

"Our challenge is to win the conference we're in, make the national tournament and upset a high seed. I still believe it can happen."

Through it all, Comley is remaining an optimist.

"I'm not giving up on the sport though. It's never going to swing back where players are restricted. They have complete freedom. And the crisis right now is everything is being done through agents. There's no phone call to say 'Hey, Rick, we're going to talk to one of your kids.'

"It's never going to be quite the same as it was. It doesn't mean it can't be good."