Brett Bruininks (BREW-in-inks) enters his second season on the bench after joining the Minnesota State women's hockey staff as an assistant coach in June of 2013.
A four-year letterwinner at Notre Dame from 1992-96, Bruininks joined the Maverick staff after three years as the women's hockey head coach at Concordia College (Minn.). Additionally, he played professionally for minor-league affiliates of the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes from 1996-99.
While at Concordia, he led the 2010-11 Cobbers to a record-setting year in his first season at the helm as CC advanced to the semi-finals of the MIAC tournament for the first time since 2000-01 and finished the year with 15 wins, a single-season program record. He was also an assistant coach for the Cobber men's hockey team during the 2009-10 campaign.
Prior to his stint at Concordia, Bruininks was the assistant women's hockey coach at Augsberg College (Minn.) in 2008-09 and an assistant coach for the girls' hockey team at the Academy of Holy Angels from 2005-09.
The Minneapolis, Minn.,native received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1996, before earning his Master's of Education degree from the University of Minnesota in 2005 and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 2009.
Dr. Bruininks taught in the exercise science program within the department of Health and Physical Education Department while at Concordia College.
