Western Michigan University Athletics

Jason Herter was named associate head coach by Pat Ferschweiler on Aug. 19, 2022, joining the Broncos after spending nine seasons helping build Minnesota-Duluth into a national power.

In his time with Western Michigan, Herter has overseen a strong defensive unit, which includes two-time All-American Ronnie Attard and Academic All-American Aidan Fulp. Over the last four seasons, six defensemen have signed deals to play professionally. 

In total, Herter has helped WMU to 104 wins, one National Championship (2025) and four NCAA Tournament appearances. He has also seen four players earn All-American honors, while the Broncos have had 12 All-NCHC selections over the last four seasons. 

Herter played a key role in helping the program claim its first ever National Championship in 2024-25, as the Broncos defeated Boston University 6-2 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo. on April 12. WMU won a program-best and NCAA leading 34 games and had four All-NCHC honorees. Along with that, Alex Bump was named a First Team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association. 

Under Herter's guidance, Western Michigan continued to dominate in all areas of the game, leading the nation in goals per game (3.98), scoring margin (+1.93) and winning percentage (.821). The Brown and Gold were also top-10 in the nation in penalty kill percentage, power-play percentage and scoring defense. The Broncos killed 42 consecutive penalties from Nov. 22 to Feb. 14. 

WMU was ranked No. 1 in the final poll of the season, receiving every first-place vote available. It marked the second time in program history that the Brown and Gold reached No. 1 in the polls, with the other happening earlier in the 2024-25 campaign.

During the 2023-24 season, Herter helped the Broncos to a third straight NCAA tournament, which had never been done in program history. Along with that, WMU had its third straight 20-plus win season, including an undefeated non-conference record. Thanks to his coaching, Carter Berger, Zak Galambos and Cedric Fiedler all signed professional contracts following the season. 

In 2022-23, he helped the Broncos to their best NCHC finish in program history (2nd) to go along with 23 overall victories and another NCAA Tournament appearance. With that, Fulp was a finalist for the NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year award, while Galambos was a finalist for the Offensive Defenseman of the Year award. Fulp signed a deal with the New York Islanders after the conclusion of the season. 

The first season of his tenure (2021-22) saw the Broncos win 26 games and become a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It was the most victories in a season since the 1995-96 campaign. The team collected its first ever NCAA Tournament win in program history, topping Northeastern, 2-1, in overtime. 

During that season, Herter oversaw the development of Attard and Michael Joyaux, who were named All-Conference honorees after the season. Attard was a First Team All-American and the NCHC's Offensive Defenseman of the Year award winner. Both Attard and Joyaux inked pro deals after the season was finished. 

During his time with Duluth, he helped the Bulldogs win national championships in 2018 and 2019 as an assistant and associate head coach. While at UMD, the team made the NCAA Tournament five times and won the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff in 2017 and 2019. Herter coached Hobey Baker Award winner Jack Connolly in 2012.  

Herter also coached in the United States Hockey League as an assistant with the Fargo Force and then serving as head coach and general manager before joining Minnesota-Duluth. The Saskatchewan native got his start in coaching alongside Ferschweiler at Russell Stover as the general manager and head coach of the 16U AAA program.  

He is a graduate of the University of North Dakota, where he starred as defenseman from 1988-91, racking up 119 points on 30 goals and 89 assists in 118 games in just three seasons. He was selected in the first round, eighth overall, in the 1989 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. Herter had an extensive professional career in the IHL, including a two-season stint with the Kalamazoo Wings. He made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders during the 1995-96 season. He wrapped up his professional career with a four-year stint in Germany, spending the final three seasons with the Munchen Barons.  

Herter holds a Master's degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He has a wife, Laura, and two children Jordyn and Jacob.