Cory McCracken joined head coach Luke Strand's staff as an assistant men's hockey coach in the summer of 2023. He will be in his third season with the Mavericks in 2025-26.
Ward helped the Mavericks finish the 2023-24 season 18-15-4 for fourth place in the CCHA standings. The team went on to make a run in the Mason Cup Playoffs to the CCHA Semifinals.
In 2024-25, Minnesota State finished 27-9-3 overall (18-5-3 CCHA) to win the MacNaughton Cup. The Mavericks went 17-4-3 at home and defeated University of St. Thomas 4-2 in the CCHA Mason Cup Championship. The Mavericks qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the tenth time in program history and fell 2-1 in double overtime to top-seeded Western Michigan. Junior goaltender Alex Tracy was a Top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, a finalist for the Mike Richter Award and CCHA Player of the Year. The Mavericks had three players named First Team All-CCHA.
McCracken, who owns a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, has served as the head coach for Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay since 2006. Named the 2012 Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association Coach of the Year, McCracken helped guide NDA to championships in 2012 and 2016. During his time with Notre Dame Academy, McCracken has seen four players go on to be NHL draft picks, 18 pursue NCAA Division I playing opportunities as student-athletes and 41 former players have junior hockey careers.
In addition to his duties with Notre Dame Academy, McCracken has also served as the Director of Player Development with the Sioux City Musketeers since 2022 in addition to working as the Assistant Director of Player Development with USA Hockey's Central District since 2014.
He also has worked as the Director of Hockey Operations for Team Wisconsin since 2007 and was working with the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association with a role in player development.
