Cole speaking at his introductory press conference on Wednesday:

“I’m really honored to have the opportunity to represent Michigan State University and Spartan hockey,” said Cole. “This is a position to which I’ve always aspired. I wasn’t sure the timing would ever work out, but I’m very fortunate. My mom and dad both went to Michigan State – I didn’t grow up around MSU, I grew up at MSU. It has been an enormous part of my life. Once I got into coaching, it didn’t take long for me to realize I wanted to get back on campus and try to accomplish what we did when I was playing for the legendary Ron Mason."

As a player under Ron Mason, Cole and the Spartans made the NCAA tournament every year in the mid 80's when he attend MSU. In that time they won an NCAA title (1986) and made three Frozen Fours.

As a head coach with Team USA he has two gold medals in U-18 World Championships (2012, 2014) and three first place finishes at the Four Nations tournament between his the U-17 and U-18 squads that he has been in charge of.

The Spartan (and Lansing Waverly) graduate has come home to help turn the Spartan program around and try to restore it to its former glory.

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