View source for Ron Mason

{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player and coach}}
{{otherpeople}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Ron Mason
| image = Mason Headshot.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1940|1|14}}
| birth_place = [[Seaforth, Ontario]], Canada
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|6|13|1940|1|14}}
| death_place = [[Haslett, Michigan]], U.S.
| alma_mater = 
| player_years1 = 1960–1963
| player_team1 = [[St. Lawrence Saints men's ice hockey|St. Lawrence]]
| coach_years1 = 1967–1973
| coach_team1 = [[Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey|Lake Superior State]]
| coach_years2 = 1973–1979
| coach_team2 = [[Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey|Bowling Green]]
| coach_years3 = 1979–2002
| coach_team3 = [[Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey|Michigan State]]
| admin_years1 = 2002–2007
| admin_team1 = [[Michigan State Spartans|Michigan State]]
| overall_record = 924–380–83
| bowl_record = 
| tournament_record = 
| championships = 
* [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] champion (1972)
* [[NCAA]] champion (1986)
* 7× [[Frozen Four]] (1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1999, 2001)
* 7× [[Central_Collegiate_Hockey_Association|CCHA Regular Season Championships]] ( 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2001)
* 10× [[List_of_CCHA_men's_ice_hockey_tournament_champions|CCHA Tournament Championships]] ( 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001)
| awards = 
| coaching_records = 
}}

'''Ronald Herbert Mason''' (January 14, 1940 – June 13, 2016) was a Canadian [[ice hockey]] player, head coach, and university executive. A head coach of various American universities, most notably [[Michigan State University]] (MSU), he was the most successful coach in [[NCAA]] ice hockey history between 1993 and 2012 with 924 wins, until [[Jerry York]] (Boston College) became the new winningest coach with his 925th career win on December 29, 2012.<ref name="slu-mason"/> Mason was athletic director at MSU from 2002 to 2008. He then served as senior advisor for the [[USHL]] [[Muskegon Lumberjacks]].<ref name="ushl-lumberjacks">{{cite press release |url=http://www.ushl.com/news.php?news_id=602 |title=Lumberjacks Make Changes to Hockey Operations Staff |date=January 13, 2012 |access-date=August 26, 2012 |publisher=USHL |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216053529/http://www.ushl.com/news.php?news_id=602 |archive-date=December 16, 2013 }}</ref> On December 2, 2013, Mason was inducted into the [[United States Hockey Hall of Fame]].

== Family ==
Ron Mason was born the son of Harvey Mason, a salesman, and Agnes Mackay Mason, an elementary school teacher. He married the former Marion Bell on June 8, 1963. They had two daughters, Tracey (born 1963) and Cindy (born 1968) and two grandsons, Tyler and Travis.<ref name="lsj-mason-era"/> Travis was a defenseman on the [[Michigan State University]] hockey team until his graduation in 2016.<ref name="uscho-mason-checkin">{{cite web |url=http://www.uscho.com/2012/01/31/checking-in-former-michigan-state-coach-ron-mason/ |title=Checking In: Former Michigan State coach Ron Mason |last=Mackinder |first=Matt |publisher=USCHO |date=January 31, 2012 |access-date=August 26, 2012}}</ref> Mason had one sister, Marion Mason Rowe.

== Education ==
Mason earned a B.A. in physical education from [[St. Lawrence University]] in 1964 and a Masters in physical education from the [[University of Pittsburgh]] in 1965. [[Michigan State University]] awarded Mason an honorary doctorate in 2001.<ref name="msu-mason-honored">{{cite press release |url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/031108aab.html |title=Mason To Be Honored as Distinguished Alumnus at Hockey Banquet  |date=March 11, 2008 |access-date=August 29, 2012 |publisher=Michigan State University}}</ref>

== Career as player ==
Mason played junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey Association’s [[Peterborough Petes]] and the Ottawa Junior Canadians. From there Mason enrolled at [[St. Lawrence University]] in the upstate town of [[Canton (village), New York|Canton, New York]] where he lettered in hockey for three years. In his first season at SLU in 1960–61, Mason and the [[Skating Saints]] were NCAA national finalists.<ref name="slu-mason">{{cite web |url=http://www.stlawu.edu/athletics/node/1445 |title=Ron Mason '64 |publisher=St. Lawrence University |access-date=August 26, 2012}}</ref> In 1961–62, Mason and SLU won the school's first [[ECACHL|Eastern College Athletic Conference]] championship and made the NCAA [[Frozen Four]].<ref name="slu-mason"/> In his final season, SLU won a school-record 20 games<ref name="slu-mason"/> finishing 20–6–1. Mason led the team in scoring twice<ref name="slu-mason"/> earning back-to-back first-team all-league honors. Mason was St. Lawrence's only player to earn that distinction until [[T. J. Trevelyan]] was named all-league in 2005 and 2006.<ref name="ecac-trevelyan">{{cite press release |url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/2006-07/news/slu_madill-trevelyan |title=ST. LAWRENCE'S MADILL AND TREVELYAN INK NHL DEALS |date=August 28, 2006 |access-date=August 26, 2012 |publisher=ECAC Hockey}}</ref>

== Career as coach ==
Mason coached one [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] program, [[Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey|Lake Superior State]], and two [[NCAA]] programs, [[Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey|Bowling Green State]] and [[Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey|Michigan State]] in 36 seasons from 1966 to 2002. He won two national titles: NAIA in 1972 with Lake Superior State and NCAA in 1986 with Michigan State.<ref name="msu-mason-cup">{{cite press release |url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/100400aab.html |title=CCHA Trophy Renamed In Honor Of Mason |date=October 4, 2000 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |publisher=Michigan State University}}</ref> Ron Mason finished his coaching career as the all-time career victories leader in college hockey history with 924 wins. Boston College's [[Jerry York]] surpassed Mason's win total on December 31, 2012. Mason is also the career coaching victories leader at Michigan State with 635 wins. He is Bowling Green State's winningest coach by percentage winning over 71 percent of his 229 games at BGSU.

Mason had 33 seasons with a winning record, 30 seasons winning 20 or more games and 11 seasons winning 30 or more games. Mason won ten CCHA regular season championships and a record 13 CCHA tournament titles. He advanced his teams to the NCAA tournament 22 times—six times as the No. 1 seed—making the [[Frozen Four]] eight times. Mason was the CCHA coach of the year six times. He won the [[Spencer Penrose]] Memorial Trophy as the national coach of the year in 1992.<ref name="ahca-coaches">{{cite web |url=http://www.ahcahockey.com/coty.html |title=Spencer Penrose Award (Division I Coach of the Year) |publisher=AHCA |access-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116180435/http://www.ahcahockey.com/coty.html |archive-date=January 16, 2010 }}</ref>

On January 26, 2002, a media report stated Mason would step down as coach at Michigan State to take over the athletic director position at MSU. On January 28, 2002, Mason made it official that he would leave his post as head ice hockey coach to become athletic director.<ref name="uscho-mason-down">{{cite web |url=http://www.uscho.com/2002/01/28/mason-elaborates-on-decision-to-step-down/ |title=Mason Elaborates on Decision to Step Down |last=Wodon |first=Adam |publisher=USCHO |date=January 28, 2002 |access-date=August 26, 2012}}</ref>

===Lake Superior State===
Mason started the hockey program at [[Lake Superior State University]] in 1966. In seven seasons at LSSU he produced four 20-win seasons and never lost more than 10 games. He guided the Lakers to the 1972 [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) national championship.<ref name="lsj-mason-era"/>

===Bowling Green State===
In 1973 he moved to [[Bowling Green State University]] where he won three [[Central Collegiate Hockey Association]] regular season titles and three consecutive CCHA tournament titles in six seasons. In 1977 Bowling Green State earned their first berth in the [[NCAA]] tournament. The berth was a first for a team not from the [[Western Collegiate Hockey Association]] or [[ECAC Hockey|Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference]]<ref name="ccha-moments"/> in the NCAA tournament's 30-year history. It was the first of three consecutive NCAA tournaments under Mason. BGSU won the third-place game over defending national champion Wisconsin in the 1978 NCAA [[Frozen Four]]. In 1978–79 Mason coached BGSU to a then NCAA record 37 wins.<ref name="bgsu-hof-mason">{{cite press release |url=http://www.bgsufalcons.com/news/2009/10/19/HOCKEY_1019090804.aspx |title=Ron Mason: 2009 BGSU Hall of Fame Inductee |date=October 19, 2009 |access-date=August 26, 2012 |publisher=Bowling Green State University}}</ref> The record would be broken in 1984-85 by Mason's own Michigan State team.<ref name="si-1986champs">{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1064672/index.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119185456/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1064672/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |title=Fast Finish For The Spartans |last=Kravitz |first=Bob |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=April 7, 1986 |access-date=August 28, 2010}}</ref>

===Michigan State===
[[Michigan State University]] Athletic Director [[Joseph Kearney]] hired Mason to replace the retiring [[Amo Bessone]] on April 1, 1979.<ref name="msu-retire-note"/> In his third season at MSU, Mason guided Michigan State to their first NCAA tournament in 15 seasons. Four seasons later in 1986, Mason led Michigan State to the school's second national title.<ref name="lsj-msu-hockey">{{cite web |url=http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110220/GW03/102200560/MSU-hockey-Goal-No-1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127120220/http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110220/GW03/102200560/MSU-hockey-Goal-No-1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2013 |title=MSU hockey: Goal No. 1 |last=Koepke |first=Neil |publisher=Lansing State Journal |date=February 21, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2010 }}</ref> Michigan State returned to the championship game the following season but lost to [[University of North Dakota|North Dakota]]. On March 12, 1993, with a 6-5 win over [[Kent State University|Kent State]], Mason passed former [[Boston College]] coach [[Len Ceglarski]] to become college hockey's all-time winningest coach with 674 wins.<ref name="si-faces">{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138248/index.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119183617/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138248/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |title=Faces In The Crowd |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=April 12, 1993 |access-date=August 28, 2012}}</ref> While at MSU, Mason won a conference-record 10 CCHA tournament championships, including a conference-record four straight from 1982 to 1985. In addition, MSU won seven CCHA regular season titles under mason, earned 19 NCAA tournament appearances, and earned seven NCAA Frozen Four appearances.

== Career as athletic director ==
Ron Mason began his duties as athletic director on July 1, 2002.<ref name="msu-bot-decision">{{cite press release |url=http://trustees.msu.edu/decisions-news/2002-02/mason.html |title=Ron Mason, one of nation's top coaches, named director of athletics at MSU |date=February 13, 2002 |access-date=August 10, 2010 |publisher=Michigan State University}}</ref> Before he officially became athletic director, Mason chose [[Rick Comley]] as his successor as hockey coach.

On November 4, 2002, after a disappointing season and a series of off-the-field incidents with players, Mason fired head football coach [[Bobby Williams]] with three games left in the season and eventually hired  [[John L. Smith]] away from Louisville as his permanent replacement.<ref name="lsj-mason-era">{{cite web |url=http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806090323 |title=The Mason Era |last=Koepke |first=Neil |publisher=Lansing State Journal |date=June 9, 2008 |access-date=August 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127121811/http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806090323 |archive-date=January 27, 2013 }}</ref> Mason fired Smith after three consecutive losing seasons, and Mason then hired [[Mark Dantonio]] away from Cincinnati, who brought the Spartans to football prominence.

While athletic director, the Michigan State hockey team won the school's third national title in 2007. Mason is the only person to have won NCAA ice hockey titles as head coach and athletic director.  Mason also placed a priority seat licensing program in Spartan Stadium based on years of holding season tickets, contribution to the [[Ralph Young Fund]], and a licensing fee for better seats on top of the price of season tickets. Further updates to increase revenue in Spartan Stadium included a $64 million [[USD]] expansion and improvements which include:<ref name="lsj-mason-era"/>
*24 luxury suites
*800 club seats
*The "Grand Entrance" featuring high ceilings, glass walls, marble floors and a new home for the original Sparty statue
*{{convert|18000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} luxury concourse
*Office space for Career Services, University Advancement and the MSU Alumni Office
*State of the art recruiting lounge
*Upgraded stadium-wide bathroom and concourse renovations
*An increase of 3000 seats, bringing the total stadium capacity to 75,005

In September 2006, Michigan State University's board of trustees approved a contract extension for Mason extending his contract as MSU's athletic director through June 2008. He retired from the post of athletic director at [[Michigan State University]] on January 1, 2008, and was succeeded by [[Mark Hollis (athletic director)|Mark Hollis]].<ref name="msu-retire-note">{{cite web |url=http://www.msuspartans.com/genrel/061308aac.html |title=HIS WAY: A retirement tribute to Ron Mason |date=June 13, 2008 |access-date=August 10, 2010 |publisher=Michigan State University}}</ref>

== Legacy with the CCHA ==
In addition to his success as a coach, Mason was involved in organizing the [[Central Collegiate Hockey Association]] (CCHA) and helping it to grow into one of the most powerful college hockey conferences of the 1980s, '90s, and 2000s.<ref name="msu-mason-cup"/> When Mason began coaching in 1966 there were only two major conferences in the NCAA, the [[ECACHL|Eastern College Athletic Conference]] and the [[Western Collegiate Hockey Association]]. While building the ice hockey program at Lake Superior State to Division I status, Mason found that his team was left without a conference. In 1972 Mason, along with Bowling Green State University's Jack Vivian, St. Louis University's Bill Selman, Ohio State University's Dave Chambers, Ohio University's John McComb and the CCHA's first commissioner Fred Jacoby, formed the [[Central Collegiate Hockey Association]].<ref name="ccha-moments">{{cite web |url=http://www.ccha.com/the_ccha/moments_in_ccha_history.aspx |title=Moments in CCHA History |publisher=Central Collegiate Hockey Association |access-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225060833/http://www.ccha.com/the_ccha/moments_in_ccha_history.aspx |archive-date=December 25, 2010 }}</ref> Mason's coaching tenure at Bowling Green State produced the CCHA's first NCAA tournament berth, first appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four, and first national No. 1 ranking.<ref name="ccha-moments"/>

For his contributions in helping build the CCHA, the conference renamed their tournament championship trophy as the [[Mason Cup]] in 2000–01.<ref name="msu-mason-cup"/>

==Honors ==
Munn Ice Arena ice rink was named October 7, 2023 for Ron Mason.  The dedication of Ron Mason Rink came as the Spartans Beat Lake Superior State 5-2 – another school where Mason's legacy is a part of the fabric of the program's historical success.  Mason is one of a handful of coaches to win national championships at two different institutions, as he led LSSU to the NAIA national championship in 1972 and MSU to the NCAA national title in 1986.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2023/9/13/mens-ice-hockey-ice-surface-at-munn-to-be-named-for-ron-mason.aspx | title=Ice Surface at Munn to be Named for Ron Mason | date=13 September 2023 }}</ref>

==Philanthropy ==
Mason volunteered with the Sparrow Foundation, where he established the Ron Mason Fund for Pediatric Rehabilitation, which helps children with disabilities. The fund has raised $675,000 for the foundation since 1998.<ref name="msu-mason-honored"/> He was also the honorary chairperson for the [[Children's Miracle Network]], which has raised $19 million-plus since 1989.<ref name="msu-mason-honored"/>

==Death==
Mason died on the morning of June 13, 2016, in Haslett, Michigan, after suffering a heart attack. He was 76.<ref name="mason-dies">{{cite web |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2016/06/13/ron-mason-dead-michigan-state/85819960/ |title='A shock': Legendary Michigan State hockey coach Ron Mason dies at 76 |publisher=Detroit Free Press |access-date=June 13, 2016 }}</ref>

== Notable players coached ==
In his 36 years, Mason coached a number of outstanding players.

===Hobey Baker Award winners===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| [[Ryan Miller]] || 2001 || Goalie|| Michigan State || Won award as a sophomore goaltender. Cousin of 1990 winner Kip Miller.<ref name="usatoday-miller">{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/shc/shchob.htm |title=Michigan State's Miller captures trophy |publisher=USA Today |date=April 18, 2001 |access-date=August 28, 2012}}</ref>
|- 
| [[Kip Miller]] || 1990 || Forward || Michigan State || Michigan State's first Hobey Baker Award winner.
|- 
| [[George McPhee]] || 1982 || Forward|| Bowling Green State || Mason recruited McPhee to BGSU and coached him for one season.<ref name="chp-ewell">{{cite web |url=http://www.collegehockeyprospective.com/2012/02/27/college-hockey-incs-nate-ewell-talks-with-chp/ |title=College Hockey, Inc's Nate Ewell talks with CHP |last=Miller |first=Bob |publisher=College Hockey PROSPECTive |date=February 27, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012}}</ref>
|}

===Hobey Baker Award finalists===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| [[Ron Scott]] || 1982 and 1983
|-
| [[Kelly Miller (ice hockey b. 1963)|Kelly Miller]] || 1985
|-
| [[Craig Simpson]] || 1985
|-
| [[Mike Donnelly]] || 1986
|-
| [[Bobby Reynolds (ice hockey)|Bobby Reynolds]] || 1989
|-
| [[Bryan Smolinski]] || 1993
|-
| [[Anson Carter]] || 1995
|-
| [[Chad Alban]] || 1998
|-
| [[Mike York]] || 1998 and 1999
|-
| [[Shawn Horcoff]] || 2000
|-
| [[Ryan Miller]] || 2002
|}

===AHCA All-America===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| [[Don Muio]] || 1972 || Goalie || Lake Superior State || College Division
|-
| [[Jim Wiley]] || 1972 || Forward || Lake Superior State || College Division
|-
| [[Ken Morrow]] || 1978 || Defense || Bowling Green State ||
|-
| [[Ron Scott]] || 1982 || Goalie || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Ron Scott]] || 1983 || Goalie || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Dan McFall]] || 1984 || Defense || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[Dan McFall]] || 1985 || Defense || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Kelly Miller (ice hockey b. 1963)|Kelly Miller]] || 1985 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Craig Simpson]] || 1985 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Gary Haight]] || 1985 || Defense || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[Mike Donnelly]] || 1986 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Don McSween]] || 1986 || Defense || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[Mitch Messier]] || 1987 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Don McSween]] || 1987 || Defense || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[Kip Miller]] || 1989 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Bobby Reynolds (ice hockey)|Bobby Reynolds]] || 1989 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Kip Miller]] || 1990 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Jason Muzzatti]] || 1990 || Goalie || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[Jason Woolley]] || 1991 || Defense || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Joby Messier]] || 1992 || Defense || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Dwayne Norris]] || 1992 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Bryan Smolinski]] || 1993 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Steve Guolla]] || 1994 || Forward || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[Anson Carter]] || 1995 || Forward || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[Chad Alban]] || 1998 || Goalie || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Mike York]] || 1998 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Tyler Harlton]] || 1998 || Defense || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[Sean Berens]] || 1998 || Forward || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[Joe Blackburn]] || 1999 || Goalie || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Mike York]] || 1999 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Mike Weaver (ice hockey)|Mike Weaver]] || 1999 || Defense || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[Shawn Horcoff]] || 2000 || Forward || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Mike Weaver (ice hockey)|Mike Weaver]] || 2000 || Defense || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Ryan Miller]] || 2001 || Goalie || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Ryan Miller]] || 2002 || Goalie || Michigan State ||
|-
| [[Andrew Hutchinson (ice hockey)|Andrew Hutchinson]] || 2002 || Defense || Michigan State || Second Team
|-
| [[John-Michael Liles]] || 2002 || Defense || Michigan State || Second Team
|}

===CCHA Player of the Year===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| [[Mike Liut]] || 1977 || Goalie || Bowling Green State
|-
| [[John Markell]] || 1978 || Forward || Bowling Green State
|-
| [[Ken Morrow]] || 1979 || Defense || Bowling Green State
|-
| [[Kip Miller]] || 1990 || Forward || Michigan State
|-
| [[Dwayne Norris]] || 1992 || Forward || Michigan State
|-
| [[Chad Alban]] || 1998 || Goalie || Michigan State
|-
| [[Mike York]] || 1999 || Forward || Michigan State
|-
| [[Shawn Horcoff]] || 2000 || Forward || Michigan State
|-
| [[Ryan Miller]] || 2001 || Goalie || Michigan State
|-
| [[Ryan Miller]] || 2002 || Goalie || Michigan State
|}

===NHL first round draft picks===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| [[Craig Simpson]] || 1985 || [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] || 2nd
|-
| [[Joe Murphy (ice hockey)|Joe Murphy]]* || 1986 || [[Detroit Red Wings]] || 1st
|-
| [[Jason Muzzatti]] || 1988 || [[Calgary Flames]] || 21st
|-
| [[Rod Brind'Amour]] || 1988 || [[St. Louis Blues]] || 9th
|-
| [[Bryan Smolinski]] || 1990 || [[Boston Bruins]] || 21st
|-
| [[Michael Stewart (ice hockey)|Michael Stewart]] || 1990 || [[New York Rangers]] || 13th
|-
| [[Jim Slater (ice hockey)|Jim Slater]] || 2002 || [[Atlanta Thrashers]] || 30th
|}
Joe Murphy was first NCAA player selected first overall<ref name="msu-mason-honored"/><ref name="nhl-college">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/futures/unitedstates.html#college |title=Hockey in the United States |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023221142/http://www.nhl.com/futures/unitedstates.html#college |archive-date=October 23, 2012 }}</ref>

===Select NHL players===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| [[Rod Brind'Amour]] || Michigan State || 21 seasons
|-
| [[Anson Carter]] || Michigan State || 12 seasons
|-
| [[Danton Cole]] || Michigan State || 7 seasons
|-
| [[Jim Cummins (ice hockey)|Jim Cummins]] || Michigan State || 12 seasons
|-
| [[Bob Essensa]] || Michigan State || 12 seasons
|-
| [[Steve Guolla]] || Michigan State || 6 seasons
|-
| [[Adam Hall]] || Michigan State || 10 seasons
|-
| [[Shawn Horcoff]] || Michigan State || 11 seasons
|-
| [[Andrew Hutchinson (ice hockey)|Andrew Hutchinson]] || Michigan State || 6 seasons
|-
| [[Duncan Keith]] || Michigan State || 6 seasons
|-
| [[John-Michael Liles]] || Michigan State || 8 seasons
|-
| [[Mike Liut]] || Bowling Green State || 13 seasons
|-
| [[Chris Luongo]] || Michigan State || 4 seasons
|-
| [[Brian MacLellan]] || Bowling Green State || 10 seasons
|-
| [[George McPhee]] || Bowling Green State || 7 seasons
|-
| [[Kelly Miller (ice hockey b. 1963)|Kelly Miller]] || Michigan State || 16 seasons
|-
| [[Kevin Miller (ice hockey)|Kevin Miller]] || Michigan State || 12 seasons
|-
| [[Kip Miller]] || Michigan State || 12 seasons
|-
| [[Ryan Miller]] || Michigan State || 18 seasons
|-
| [[Ken Morrow]] || Bowling Green State || 10 seasons
|-
| [[Joe Murphy (ice hockey)|Joe Murphy]] || Michigan State || 15 seasons
|-
| [[Rem Murray]] || Michigan State || 9 seasons
|-
| [[Craig Simpson]] || Michigan State || 10 seasons
|-
| [[Jim Slater (ice hockey)|Jim Slater]] || Michigan State || 7 seasons
|-
| [[Bryan Smolinski]] || Michigan State || 17 seasons
|-
| [[Mike Watt (ice hockey)|Mike Watt]] || Michigan State || 5 seasons
|-
| [[Mike Weaver (ice hockey)|Mike Weaver]] || Michigan State || 10 seasons
|-
| [[Peter White (ice hockey)|Peter White]] || Michigan State || 10 seasons
|-
| [[Jim Wiley]] || Lake Superior State || 4 seasons
|-
| [[Neil Wilkinson (ice hockey)|Neil Wilkinson]] || Michigan State || 10 seasons
|-
| [[Jason Woolley]] || Michigan State || 14 seasons
|-
| [[Mike York]] || Michigan State || 10 seasons
|}

===Olympians===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| [[Bob Dobek]] || 1976 || USA ||
|-
| [[Doug Ross (ice hockey)|Doug Ross]] || 1976 || USA ||
|-
| [[Ken Morrow]] || 1980 || USA || Gold
|-
| [[Mark Wells]] || 1980 || USA || Gold
|-
| [[Gary Haight]] || 1984 || USA ||
|-
| [[Kevin Miller (ice hockey)|Kevin Miller]] || 1988 || USA ||
|-
| [[Geir Hoff]] || 1988 || Norway ||
|-
| [[Brian Stankiewicz]] || 1988 || Austria ||
|-
| [[Jason Woolley]] || 1992 || Canada || Silver
|-
| [[Geir Hoff]] || 1992 || Norway ||
|-
| [[Dwayne Norris]] || 1994 || Canada || Silver
|-
| [[Geir Hoff]] || 1994 || Norway ||
|-
| [[Brian Stankiewicz]] || 1994 || Austria ||
|-
| [[Rod Brind'Amour]] || 1998 || Canada ||
|-
| [[Mike York]] || 2002 || USA || Silver
|-
| [[John-Michael Liles]] || 2006 || USA ||
|-
| [[Jason Muzzatti]] || 2006 || Italy ||
|-
| [[Tony Tuzzolino]] || 2006 || Italy ||
|-
| [[Ryan Miller]] || 2010, 2014 || USA || Silver ('10)
|-
| [[Duncan Keith]] || 2010, 2014 || Canada || Gold ('10, '14)
|}

== Head coaching record ==

{{CBB Yearly Record Start
|type = coach
|conference =
|postseason =
|poll = coaches
}}
{{CIH yearly record subhead
|name       = [[Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey|{{color|white|Lake Superior State Lakers}}]]
|color      = color:white; background:#003F87; {{box-shadow border|a|#FFC61E|2px}}
|startyear  = 1966
|conflong   = NCAA Division I independent schools (ice hockey)
|conference = Independent
|endyear    = 1967
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1966–67 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1966–67]]
 | name         = Lake Superior State
 | overall      = 15–5–0
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CIH yearly record subhead
|name       = {{color|white|Lake Superior State Lakers}}
|color      = color:white; background:#003F87; {{box-shadow border|a|#FFC61E|2px}}
|startyear  = 1967
|conflong   = International Collegiate Hockey Association
|conference = ICHA
|endyear    = 1972
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = [[1967–68 NAIA men's ice hockey season|1967–68]]
 | name         = Lake Superior State
 | overall      = 21–3–2
 | conference   = 15–1–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = NAIA Finalist
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1968–69 NAIA men's ice hockey season|1968–69]]
 | name         = Lake Superior State
 | overall      = 21–5–0
 | conference   = 12–4–0
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   = NAIA Finalist
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = [[1969–70 NAIA men's ice hockey season|1969–70]]
 | name         = Lake Superior State
 | overall      = 19–7–0
 | conference   = 10–2–0
 | confstanding = T-1st
 | postseason   = NAIA Finalist
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1970–71 NAIA men's ice hockey season|1970–71]]
 | name         = Lake Superior State
 | overall      = 13–7–4
 | conference   = 5–5–2
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = national
 | season       = [[1971–72 NAIA men's ice hockey season|1971–72]]
 | name         = Lake Superior State
 | overall      = 20–8–2
 | conference   = 12–0–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[NAIA Ice Hockey Championship|NAIA Champion]]
}}
{{CIH yearly record subhead
|name       = {{color|white|Lake Superior State Lakers}}
|color      = color:white; background:#003F87; {{box-shadow border|a|#FFC61E|2px}}
|startyear  = 1972
|conflong   = Central Collegiate Hockey Association
|conference = CCHA
|endyear    = 1973
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1972–73 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1972–73]]
 | name         = Lake Superior State
 | overall      = 21–9–0
 | conference   = 9–3–0
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   = NAIA Third Place
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Lake Superior State
 | overall    = 130–44–8
 | confrecord = 64–15–2
}}
{{CIH yearly record subhead
|name       = [[Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey|{{color|white|Bowling Green Falcons}}]]
|color      = color:white; background:#4F2C1D; {{box-shadow border|a|#FE5000|2px}}
|startyear  = 1973
|conflong   = Central Collegiate Hockey Association
|conference = CCHA
|endyear    = 1979
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1973–74 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1973–74]]
 | name         = Bowling Green
 | overall      = 20–19–0
 | conference   = 2–6–0
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | postseason   = [[1974 CCHA men's ice hockey tournament|CCHA Third-place game (win)]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1974–75 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1974–75]]
 | name         = Bowling Green
 | overall      = 23–10–2
 | conference   = 4–3–1
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   = [[1975 CCHA men's ice hockey tournament|CCHA Semifinals]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = [[1975–76 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1975–76]]
 | name         = Bowling Green
 | overall      = 21–9–2
 | conference   = 11–4–1
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1976 CCHA men's ice hockey tournament|CCHA Semifinals]]
 | poll = 8
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = [[1976–77 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1976–77]]
 | name         = Bowling Green
 | overall      = 28–11–0
 | conference   = 10–6–0
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   = [[1977 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Quarterfinal]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1977–78 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1977–78]]
 | name         = Bowling Green
 | overall      = 31–8–0
 | conference   = 15–3–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1978 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA consolation game (win)]]
 | poll = 6
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1978–79 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1978–79]]
 | name         = Bowling Green
 | overall      = 37–6–2
 | conference   = 21–2–1
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1979 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Quarterfinal]]
 | poll = 2
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Bowling Green
 | overall    = 160–63–6
 | confrecord = 63–24–3
}}
{{CIH yearly record subhead
|name       = [[Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey|{{color|white|Michigan State Spartans}}]]
|color      = color:white; background:#18453B
|startyear  = 1979
|conflong   = Western Collegiate Hockey Association
|conference = WCHA / Big Ten
|endyear    = 1981
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1979–80 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1979–80]]
 | name         = [[Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey|Michigan State]]
 | overall      = 14–24–0
 | conference   = 12–16–0
 | confstanding = 8th / 3rd
 | postseason   = [[1980 WCHA men's ice hockey tournament|WCHA Quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1980–81 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1980–81]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 12–22–2
 | conference   = 7–20–1
 | confstanding = 10th / 4th
 | postseason   = 
 | poll = 
}}
{{CIH yearly record subhead
|name       = {{color|white|Michigan State Spartans}}
|color      = color:white; background:#18453B
|startyear  = 1981
|conflong   = Central Collegiate Hockey Association
|conference = CCHA
|endyear    = 2002
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = [[1981–82 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1981–82]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 26–14–2
 | conference   = 21–10–1
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   = [[1982 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 5
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = [[1982–83 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1982–83]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 30–11–1
 | conference   = 23–9–0
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   = [[1983 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 5
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = [[1983–84 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1983–84]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 34–12–0
 | conference   = 21–9–0
 | confstanding = T-2nd
 | postseason   = [[1984 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA consolation game (loss)]]
 | poll = 6
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1984–85 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1984–85]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 38–6–0
 | conference   = 27–5–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1985 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 3
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = national
 | season       = [[1985–86 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1985–86]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 34–9–2
 | conference   = 23–7–2
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1986 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Champion]]
 | poll = 3
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = [[1986–87 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1986–87]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 33–10–2
 | conference   = 23–8–1
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   = [[1987 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA runner-up]]
 | poll = 6
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | season       = [[1987–88 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1987–88]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 27–16–3
 | conference   = 18–11–3
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | postseason   = [[1988 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1988–89 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1988–89]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 37–9–1
 | conference   = 25–6–1
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1989 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA consolation game (win)]]
 | poll = 1
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1989–90 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1989–90]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 35–7–3
 | conference   = 26–3–3
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1990 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 1
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1990–91 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1990–91]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 17–18–5
 | conference   = 14–13–5
 | confstanding = 5th
 | postseason   = [[1991 CCHA men's ice hockey tournament|CCHA Quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1991–92 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1991–92]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 26–10–8
 | conference   = 18–7–7
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | postseason   = [[1992 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Frozen Four]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1992–93]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 24–14–2
 | conference   = 18–10–2
 | confstanding = 4th
 | postseason   = [[1993 CCHA men's ice hockey tournament|CCHA Second round]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1993–94 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1993–94]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 23–13–4
 | conference   = 17–8–5
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | postseason   = [[1994 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA regional quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1994–95 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1994–95]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 25–12–3
 | conference   = 17–7–3
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | postseason   = [[1995 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA regional quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 7
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1995–96 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1995–96]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 28–13–1
 | conference   = 22–7–1
 | confstanding = T-3rd
 | postseason   = [[1996 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA regional quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[1996–97 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1996–97]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 23–13–4
 | conference   = 16–7–4
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | postseason   = [[1997 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA regional quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1997–98 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1997–98]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 33–6–5
 | conference   = 21–5–4
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1998 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA regional semifinals]]
 | poll = 2
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = [[1998–99 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1998–99]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 29–6–7
 | conference   = 20–3–7
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1999 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Frozen Four]]
 | poll = 2
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = [[1999–2000 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1999–00]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 27–11–4
 | conference   = 18–8–2
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   = [[2000 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA regional quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 8
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2000–01 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|2000–01]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 33–5–4
 | conference   = 21–4–3
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[2001 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA Frozen Four]]
 | poll = 1
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2001–02 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|2001–02]]
 | name         = Michigan State
 | overall      = 27–9–5
 | conference   = 18–6–4
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   = [[2002 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament|NCAA regional quarterfinals]]
 | poll = 4
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Michigan State
 | overall    = 635–270–69
 | confrecord = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
|overall      = 924–380–83
|conference =  
}}

==See also==
*[[List of college men's ice hockey coaches with 400 wins]]
*[[Mason Cup]]

==Awards and honors==
{| class="wikitable"
! Award
! Year
|-
| All-[[ECAC Hockey]] [[List of All-ECAC Hockey Teams#First Team|First Team]]
| [[1961–62 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1961–62]]
|-
| [[ECAC Hockey]] [[List of ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team|All-Tournament First Team]]
| [[1962 ECAC Hockey men's ice hockey tournament|1962]]
|-
| All-[[ECAC Hockey]] [[List of All-ECAC Hockey Teams#First Team|First Team]]
| [[1962–63 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1962–63]]
|-
| [[ECAC Hockey]] [[List of ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team|All-Tournament Second Team]]
| [[1963 ECAC Hockey men's ice hockey tournament|1963]]
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist|50em}}

==External links==
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box | before= Award Created<br />[[Bill Selman]]<br />[[Bill Wilkinson (ice hockey)|Bill Wilkinson]]<br />[[Frank Anzalone]]<br />[[John Markell]]| title=[[List of CCHA Coach of the Year|CCHA Coach of the Year]] | years= [[1975–76 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1975–76]]<br />[[1977–78 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1977–78]], [[1978–79 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1978–79]]<br />[[1984–85 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1984–85]]<br />[[1988–89 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1988–89]], [[1989–90 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1989–90]]<br />[[1998–99 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1998–99]] | after= [[Bill Selman]]<br />[[Rick Comley]]<br />[[Bill Wilkinson (ice hockey)|Bill Wilkinson]]<br />[[Jeff Jackson (ice hockey b. 1955)|Jeff Jackson]]<br />[[Scott Borek]] }}
{{succession box | before = [[Rick Comley]]| title = [[Spencer Penrose Award]] | years = [[1991–92 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season|1991–92]]| after = [[George Gwozdecky]]}}
{{succession box | before = [[Lefty Smith]] | title = [[Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award]] | years = 2004 | after = [[Murray Williamson]]}}
{{s-sport}}
{{succession box | title=[[Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey|Michigan State Head Ice Hockey Coach]] | before=[[Amo Bessone]] | years=1979&ndash;2002| after=[[Rick Comley]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey navbox}}
{{Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey navbox}}
{{Michigan State Spartans athletic director navbox}}
{{Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, Ron}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Bowling Green Falcons ice hockey coaches]]
[[Category:Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey coaches]]
[[Category:Michigan State Spartans athletic directors]]
[[Category:Michigan State Spartans ice hockey coaches]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from Huron County, Ontario]]
[[Category:Peterborough Petes (ice hockey) players]]
[[Category:St. Lawrence Saints men's ice hockey players]]
[[Category:United Hockey League coaches]]
[[Category:University of Pittsburgh alumni]]
[[Category:Sigma Alpha Epsilon members]]
[[Category:United States Hockey Hall of Fame inductees]]