Western Michigan University Athletics

Pat Ferschweiler was named Western Michigan head hockey coach on Aug. 3, 2021 after spending two seasons as an associate head coach with the program (2019-21). It was his second stint with the Broncos after he spent four years as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings under former WMU head coach Jeff Blashill. Prior to entering the professional coaching ranks, Ferschweiler was an assistant coach/associate head coach for WMU from 2010-2014. 

He also has extensive international coaching experience, winning a gold medal as the head coach of the US U-17 Team at the Five Nations Tournament in 2017. He served as an assistant coach with the US U-18 Team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2018 and then served as the team’s head coach for the 2019 Tournament. He was also an assistant coach for the United States at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, earning a bronze medal with the team. 

In his time as WMU’s head coach, Ferschweiler has accumulated 104 wins, including 59 victories in conference play. In four seasons, he has coached four All-Americans, 12 All-Conference players, nine NCHC individual award winners, two national goal leaders and one Hobey Baker Finalist. Off the ice, Ferschweiler has seen the Broncos amass 84 NCHC Academic All-Conference honors and 55 NCHC Distinguished Scholar Athletes. The Broncos had a program-high 21 players earn NCHC Academic All-Conference honors in 2021-22. Nationally, 11 players have secured All-American Scholar status. In terms of development, 24 players have gone on to sign professional contracts during his time with the program. 

Ferschweiler took the Broncos to new heights in 2024-25, leading the program to its first ever National Championship. The Broncos defeated Boston University 6-2 in the title game on April 12 in St. Louis, Mo. The Broncos beat Denver (3-2 2OT), UMass (2-1) and Minnesota State (2-1 2OT) in the NCAA Tournament during the run to the championship. Along with that, Ferschweiler guided the Brown and Gold to a program record 34 victories, including 10 in a row to end the season. 

The Rochester, Minn. native also helped Western Michigan claim its first ever Penrose Cup and NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship. WMU secured the regular season title with a 6-4 win over North Dakota on Feb. 28 and beat Denver 4-3 in double overtime on March 22 to claim the conference tournament title. The Broncos went 19-4-1 in NCHC play, losing just once in regulation throughout the league season. 

For his efforts, Ferschweiler was named the Spencer Penrose Award winner, which is given annually to the Division 1 National Coach of the Year. He was also named the College Hockey News and USCHO Coach of the Year. The NCHC selected him as the league's Coach of the Year for the second time in the last three seasons. The Broncos had four All-NCHC standouts (Alex Bump, Hampton Slukynsky, Joona Väisänen and Cameron Rowe) and three individual award winners. To close out the season, Alex Bump was named a First Team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association. 

Ferschweiler and the Broncos were 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. Western Michigan led the nation in goals per game (3.98), scoring margin (+1.93) and winning percentage (.821). 

During the 2023-24 season, Ferschweiler guided the Broncos to a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in program history. The Brown and Gold finished the season with 21 wins, which included going unbeaten in non-conference play. With another strong season, WMU was ranked in the USCHO and USA Hockey top 20 throughout the entire season.

Along with that, Ferschweiler helped Luke Grainger and Sam Colangelo earn All-NCHC honors to go along with Alex Bump’s All-Rookie Team status. Grainger would go on to be named the NCHC’s Senior Scholar Athlete Award winner at the league’s annual awards banquet in St. Paul. Following the season, eight players signed professional contracts. 

In 2022-23, Ferschweiler coached the Broncos to a historic season, as the team won 23 overall games, including 15 in conference play. WMU’s 15 NCHC wins helped secure a second-place league finish, which is the highest NCHC finish in program history. Additionally, Western Michigan made its eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and second consecutive trip to the big dance. 

The Broncos’ leader was named the NCHC’s Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the National Coach of the Year award. Under his tutelage, Jason Polin was able to shine in his senior season, earning NCHC Player of the Year and Forward of the Year honors. Polin went on to break the single-season NCHC scoring record and led the nation with 30 goals. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and was tabbed as an All-American following the season.  

Ryan McAllister joined Polin as an All-NCHC performer and was a near unanimous choice for the All-Rookie Team. Western Michigan’s top line of Polin, McAllister and Max Sasson produced 138 points on 58 goals and 80 assists. All three signed NHL entry-level contracts at the end of the season. 

In his first season as head coach (2021-22), Ferschweiler helped the Broncos pick up 26 wins, which was the most victories in a season since the 1995-96 campaign. Western Michigan would go on to make its first NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship appearance and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. 

In just his first season as the head coach, Ferschweiler helped WMU pick up its first ever NCAA Tournament victory. The Broncos defeated Northeastern, 2-1, in the Worcester Regional Semifinals. Luke Grainger notched the game-winning goal in overtime. 

The Brown and Gold had four All-Conference performers in Ethen Frank (First Team), Ronnie Attard (First Team), Drew Worrad (Second Team) and Michael Joyaux (Honorable Mention). Attard would go on to win the NCHC’s Offensive Defenseman of the Year award, while Worrad claimed the league’s Senior Scholar Athlete Award. Attard and Frank were named All-Americans following the season. Frank led the nation in goals, while Attard was one of the top scoring defensemen in the country. 

Ferschweiler was originally brought back to WMU in July of 2010 under Blashill and was held on staff by head coach Andy Murray.  

Ferschweiler’s ability to develop talent helped the Broncos to another winning season in 2012-13. Danny DeKeyser was once again named an All-American and won the CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman award for a second-straight season. Behind a strong defensive core, the Broncos broke the program record for fewest goals allowed in a season as well. For his contribution to the continuing success he was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2013-14 season.

In his second season he helped lead Western Michigan to their second ever CCHA Tournament Championship. With Ferschweiler’s help, both DeKeyser and Matt Tennyson were named Second Team All-CCHA and Garrett Haar was selected to the CCHA All-Freshman Team. DeKeyser was also named Second Team All-American.

In his first season as assistant coach, the Broncos improved greatly from previous season, finishing in fourth place in the CCHA with an overall record of 19-13-10. The team would also earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. As director of skill development, he helped several players post career-best point totals. In total, the Broncos earned six CCHA Player of the Week awards in various categories. With Ferschweiler’s help, the Broncos also had two CCHA All-Rookie Team selections in DeKeyser and Chase Balisy, who also went on to be named Freshman All-Americans by Inside College Hockey.

Before joining the WMU coaching staff, he built the Russell Stover AAA Hockey program in Overland, Kan., from the ground up in August 2004 and coached the U-18 team through 2010. Under Ferschweiler, Russell Stover became one of the elite hockey programs in the country, winning several Midwest Regional Championships and competing for national championships.  Ferschweiler’s most recent Stover team finished in third place at the 2010 USA Hockey Tier I 18U National Tournament. He was also the director of hockey for the Kansas City Stars youth organization from 2005-2009. Under his guidance, the Stars membership grew from 35 players to 360. He also trained Stars coaches at both the travel and house level, as well as teaching coaching classes designed to improve their understanding of hockey and their ability to teach the game.
 
As a player Ferschweiler suited up for the Brown & Gold in 116 total games and amassed 95 points on 30 goals and 65 assists. He was awarded the Rob Hodge Most Valuable Player for the 1992-93 season in which he tallied 35 points including a career-best 15 goals. He was also named the CCHA’s Best Defensive Forward for the 1991-92 season. Ferschweiler played professionally for 11 seasons, five of which came with the Kansas City Blades of the International Hockey League, back when the IHL was one of the top minor-pro leagues in the nation. He received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Western Michigan University in 1993.

Fershweiler resides in Kalamazoo with his wife Stacie and daughters Mia and Avery.