Syracuse ice hockey hires Brian Idalski as next head coach
Brian Idalski has been named Syracuse’s next head coach. Idalski, 55, coached for 25 years at the Division I, PWHL and international levels. Tara Deluca | Photo Editor
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Brian Idalski has been named Syracuse ice hockey’s next head coach, SU announced in a press release Tuesday. Idalski has 25 years of head coaching experience across different women’s ice hockey levels and replaces former head coach Britni Smith, who stepped down in April.
“I am honored to join Syracuse University and the Orange family,” Idalski said in the release. “Thank you to the administration, specifically (athletic director) Bryan Blair and Jordie Kindervater for the opportunity to lead this program. I’m excited to work with our student-athletes and help them grow as players, leaders and individuals.”
Idalski’s first head coaching gig began in 2001 at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he went 108-21-11 over five seasons leading the Pointers. The Michigan native also guided UW-Stevens Point to three NCAA Tournaments.
The 55-year-old then spent a decade at North Dakota from 2007-17, going 169-154-39, while leading it to two NCAA Tournaments. Idalski won over 20 games five times.
Idalski also has international coaching experience, helming the Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays of the Chinese Women’s Ice Hockey League for three years from 2019-22. In 2022, Idalski served as China’s head coach for the Beijing Olympics, helping the team to two victories.
After spending three years at St. Cloud State from 2022-25, Idalski spent last season with the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Vancouver Goldeneyes in their inaugural campaign. Idalski went 9-3-4-14 and was dismissed after one year.
The Michigan native inherits a Syracuse team that went 15-18-4 last season and fell to Penn State in the Atlantic Hockey America Semifinals. With star goalie Ava Drabyk in net and offensive pieces like Emma Gnade coming off stellar freshman campaigns, Idalski looks to bring SU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022.
