KALAMAZOO, Mich. – College Hockey News named Western Michigan head coach Pat Ferschweiler its National Coach of the Year this morning. 

The fourth-year bench boss for the Broncos has taken the program to new heights this season, helping the Brown and Gold record numerous program firsts. WMU won its first ever Penrose Cup championship and first NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship in program history this season. The Brown and Gold are just the second team in NCHC history to win both the regular season and tournament titles in the same year. 

Along with that, the Broncos won the Fargo Regional this past weekend and rose to No. 1 in the national polls for the first time in program history. When Western Michigan takes the ice next weekend, it will be playing in its first ever Frozen Four. 

Ferschweiler and the Broncos enter the Frozen Four with a program record and NCAA leading 32 victories this season. He was named the NCHC's Coach of the Year back in March. He is also a finalist for the AHCA National Coach of the Year award, which will be announced on April 8. 

Western Michigan will hit the ice against Denver next Thursday (April 10) in St. Louis, Mo. The national semifinal game is set for a 5 PM ET/4 PM CT puck drop at the Enterprise Center.