Naurato Signs Contract Extension Through 2030
1/12/2026 3:00:00 PM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Warde Manuel announced Monday (Jan. 12) that Graham Family Head Ice Hockey Coach Brandon Naurato has agreed to a contract extension with the Wolverine program that runs through the 2029-30 season.
"Brandon Naurato has assembled teams that consistently compete for Big Ten and national championships," Manuel said. "His holistic approach to leadership emphasizes the development of each player, fostering individual growth, strong team chemistry, academic achievement, and meaningful community involvement. Under Brandon's guidance, our hockey program is healthy and thriving. We are excited for the future and confident in Brandon's continued leadership for years to come."
"I'm grateful to Warde Manuel and the University of Michigan Board of Regents for the trust they've placed in me to lead this program," said Naurato. "Our focus is on building a culture rooted in development, accountability and daily habits, both on and off the ice. The work our players and staff put in every day is what defines Michigan Hockey. We've laid an important foundation, but our standards demand that we keep pushing forward. I'm incredibly proud of our coaching staff and extended staff for the passion and expertise they bring to the rink every day. It's all about supporting our players, and we have a group of people who take great pride in doing that. I'm excited about the work ahead and the future we're building for this program and for my family in Ann Arbor."
Naurato guided the Wolverines to back-to-back Frozen Four appearances in his first two seasons. A 2009 graduate of Michigan, Naurato posted the most wins (26) of any first-year Michigan head coach in program history before becoming the first to post consecutive 20-plus win seasons to kick off his tenure.
As interim head coach in 2022-23, the Michigan alum led the Wolverines to the Big Ten Tournament Championship and a run to the 2023 NCAA Frozen Four. Three players were named All-Americans as Michigan set a new program record with 16 sellout crowds at Yost Ice Arena. The following year, the Wolverines retained the Big Ten Tournament Championship title, made history by scoring the most goals in an NCAA Regional en route to another Frozen Four and finished with a Hobey Baker Award for Adam Fantilli.
Currently ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation with an 18-4 record, Michigan started the season with its best defensive effort ever -- in 104 seasons. Since Naurato's arrival, the team continues to boast the highest scoring offense in the nation, with this year's team scoring at a clip of 4.91 goals per game, with one of the top power-play units, converting at 31.4 percent.
With the Naurato extension also comes extensions for Rob Rassey (associate head coach), Matt Deschamps (assistant coach) and Kevin Reiter (assistant coach) through 2028.Â
