Information AboutHerb Brooks |
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Herbert Paul Brooks ( August 5 , 1937 – August 11 , 2003 ) was an American Ice Hockey Coach , best known for coaching the U.S. hockey team to a gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics in an event known as the '' Miracle On Ice ''. EARLY LIFE Born in St. Paul, Minnesota , he played on the Johnson High School hockey team that won the State Championship in 1955 . Brooks often said that winning the state championship was his greatest hockey achievement, because he accomplished it with his best friends. Brooks later played hockey at the University Of Minnesota and was a member of the 1964 and 1968 United States Olympic teams. He almost made the 1960 Olympic team, only to be cut the week before the Olympic games started. He then sat home and watched the team he almost made win gold. Later, he coached the University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey team to three NCAA championships ( 1974 , 1976 , and 1979 ). He coached St. Cloud State University in the mid-1980s. 1980 WINTER OLYMPICS He was coach of the United States hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympics that won the gold medal. The team, which was composed of college-aged players, defeated Finland in the final match of the medal round after beating the Soviet Union in the previous game. The Soviet Union, which had won four consecutive Olympic titles from 1964 to 1976, was considered the best team at these Olympics, while the U.S. reaching the medal round was already considered a surprise. The victory later became known as the '' Miracle On Ice .'' LATER CAREER He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall Of Fame in 1990 . Brooks later coached in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers , where he became the fastest coach in Rangers' team history to win 100 games. He also coached the Minnesota North Stars , New Jersey Devils , and Pittsburgh Penguins . He was a long time head scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins from the mid-1990's until the day of his death. He again coached the U.S. hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics , this time winning a silver medal. He also coached France in the 1998 Winter Olympics . DEATH AND LEGACY Brooks died in a one-car accident on the afternoon of August 11, 2003, near Forest Lake, MN on Interstate 35 , only six days after he turned 66. It is believed that Brooks fell asleep behind the wheel before the accident, and neither drugs nor alcohol were responsible. Disney released a film about the 1980 Olympic team in 2004 called '' Miracle '' featuring Kurt Russell playing the part of Brooks. Brooks served as a consultant during principal photography, which was completed shortly before his death. Upon the 25th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the Olympic ice arena in Lake Placid, New York , where the United States won their gold medal, was renamed Herb Brooks Arena . A statue of Brooks depicting his reaction to the victory in the "Miracle" game was erected in Saint Paul, MN in 2003. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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