Mike Szkodzinski continues to press forward in making the Lawrence University hockey program one of the finest teams in NCAA Division III.
As the head coach since 2006, Szkodzinski (pronounced SKUH-gin-SKI) has produced six double-digit victory campaigns, and the Vikings set a school record for wins in 2008-09. Szkodzinski, who has more victories than any coach in Lawrence history, coached his team to the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Northern Division title in 2008-09. He also has guided the Vikings to the league playoffs in each of his 10 seasons.
"We have seen positive progress in our program over the past decade," Szkodzinski said. "We are very proud of the way our scholar-athletes conduct themselves on and off the ice. We have become a difficult team to play against night in and night out and have represented Lawrence University well away from the rink."
Szkodzinski served as Lawrence’s Director of Athletics since from 2009 until 2016 before returning his full attention to the hockey team. During his tenure as the leader of the Department of Athletics, Szkodzinski expanded and strengthened the coaching staff and oversaw the renovation of the Banta Bowl, Lawrence’s football and soccer facility.
A native of Brighton, Mich., Szkodzinski played for two seasons at Ferris State University, earning All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie Team honors in 1997. He transferred to St. Norbert College and was a standout goaltender. He was a second-team American Hockey Coaches Association All-American in 1999 and earned first-team All-Northern Collegiate Hockey Association honors in 1999 and 2000.
Szkodzinski put together an impressive 2.21 career goals against average and still holds the school record with a .917 career save percentage. He compiled a 32-9-4 record between the pipes, and included in that total is a 4-2 win in the 1999 NCAA Division III Tournament over Middlebury College.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Norbert, Szkodzinski went on to serve as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for the 2001-02 season. He then spent two seasons as an assistant at the University of Findlay, where he received a Master of Business Administration. Szkodzinski then worked as an assistant at St. Norbert before being hired as Lawrence’s head coach in June 2006.
"I have gained valuable experience at elite levels of college hockey because of the coaches with whom I have worked before coming to Lawrence," he said.
Szkodzinski also believes working at both the Division III level (St. Norbert, UW-Eau Claire) and the Division I level (Findlay) is a valuable asset.
"I am also very fortunate to have had such a diverse hockey background as both a Division I and III player and as a Division I and III assistant coach," he said. "The different situations faced at each level will certainly aid in making decisions aimed at getting the most out of our players."
As a player and coach, Szkodzinski is accustomed to winning. During his two seasons as a player at St. Norbert, the Green Knights put together a 49-8-5 record and was the 2006 NCAA Division III runner-up.
"It is a strong belief of mine that a team created around character can be the foundation for success and the base for an exciting, enduring future," Szkodzinski said. "We feel like we recruit quality people that are not only fine hockey players, but even better representatives of Lawrence University."
Szkodzinski and his wife, Tori, have three children, Megan, Trevor and Travis.
