Rob Facca was hired to the position of assistant hockey coach and recruiting coordinator on July 7, 2010, joining head coach Jeff Blashill's staff for his first year at the helm. He was retained as a part of head coach Andy Murray's staff after Blashill's departure.
After a successful season that, once again saw freshmen play key pieces to the success of WMU, Facca was promoted to the title of associate head coach prior to the start of the 2013-14 season.
Facca's work on the recruiting trail paid dividends for WMU as freshmen were key pieces of the Broncos' 2011-12 CCHA Tournament Championship team. Two freshmen, Garrett Haar and Frank Slubowski, were named to the CCHA All-Rookie team. Slubowski went on to win the CCHA Tournament MVP as he manned the pipes for WMU during their championship run. Facca was also instrumental in the Broncos power play finishing the season converting 20-percent of their chances
In his first season on the job the Broncos improved greatly from the pervious season, finishing in fourth place in the CCHA with an overall record of 19-13-10. As WMU's recruiting coordinator Facca helped the Broncos sign a total of 12 student-athletes to national letters of intent, with the incoming class of 2011-12 defined by coach Blashill as an "elite class."
Facca came to Western Michigan after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with Northern Michigan under head coach Walt Kyle. At NMU Facca managed the Wildcats’ comprehensive international recruiting program and also worked with skill development, assisted with scheduling and helped coach the forwards. With Facca’s help, the Wildcats produced a two-time All-American defenseman in Erik Gustaffson, now with the Philadelphia Flyers organization, and All-American and First Team All-CCHA member Mark Olver, a member of the Colorado Avalanche organization.
The Wildcats advanced to the CCHA Tournament Semifinals the past three seasons and lost to Michigan in the finals of the 2009-10 tournament. With Facca’s help the Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over a decade. The Nebraska-Omaha alum also spent two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater from 2005-07. Prior to UNO, Facca spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in December of 2000 with a bachelors of science in journalism and communications.
Facca, 35, resides in Kalamazoo with his wife Nicole, son Louie (6) daugthers Bella (3) and Clara (1)
