When a new head coach says that he’s confident that he can get things done with the guys already on the roster, it usually feels like they’re blowing smoke and just being politically correct. But when Western Michigan’s rookie bench boss Jeff Blashill started making those familiar noises after he was hired away from his post as head coach and general manager of the United States Hockey League’s Indiana Ice, something felt different about his words.

Jeff Blashill

It turns out that Blashill truly believed in the guys already in the locker room in Kalamazoo, and that the 37-year-old former CCHA goaltender and assistant coach knew how to push all of the right buttons to convince those same players that they were indeed capable of contending in the conference, and that they could be a team of note nationally.

That faith was rewarded with dedication and output that had long been missing in Kalamazoo, as Blashill’s squad responded with 19-12-10 record, the team’s first trip to the CCHA title game since 1986 and Western Michigan’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 1996, where the Broncos lost a double-overtime heartbreaker to Denver.

Blashill’s players emphasize his dedication and attention to details as ideals that the rest of the team has learned to follow, with his goaltenders being the primary beneficiaries. The former goaltender was described by netminder Jerry Kuhn, who improved vastly and was the star of the team’s postseason run, as a goaltending guru, and the team also saw solid performances from Nick Pisellini early in the year as well.

With the vast majority of the roster returning next year and the success this year coming from hard work and being focused, it seems inevitable that Blashill and his team will see success in the coming years.

His Runner-Up: Mark Dennehy, Merrimack

• INCH’s year-end awards are decided upon with input from the editorial staff of InsideCollegeHockey.com and in consultation with coaches and other college hockey followers from across the country.