Coach Burggraf enters his third season as head coach of the Bethel men's hockey team in 2011-12. Burggraf previously spent four years as Bethel's women's hockey coach, leading the Royals to the conference playoffs twice, and was named the MIAC Coach of the Year following the 2008-09 season.
Before coming to Bethel, Burggraf spent two years as an assistant for the University of Minnesota's women's hockey program. With the Gophers, Burggraf helped lead the U of M program to its second of two straight national championships in 2004-05. Prior to his time with the University of Minnesota, Burggraf spent two years with the Royals men's hockey team as the head JV coach and an assistant varsity coach.
A native of Roseau, Minn., and a graduate of the University of North Dakota, Burggraf played for the Sioux from 1975-79 and was part of UND's NCAA runner-up team in 1979. A two-year captain, Burggraf scored 52 goals and 102 assists for 154 points. After graduating from North Dakota, he played professional hockey in Duisburg, Germany for two years and later returned to serve as an assistant coach with UND.
In addition to his coaching duties at Bethel, Burggraf also serves as Bethel's director of recreational sports in the athletic department. Coach Burrgraf lives in Shoreview with his wife Bethany, and has three grown children - Zach, Amy, and Nick.
Assistant Coach: Chris Carroll
Carroll is in his ninth year coaching at Bethel after completing a two-time All-Conference career for the Royals from 2000-2004. A native of Roseville, Minn., he lettered all four years in both hockey and baseball for the Royals and was a captain in each sport. Carroll's primary roles include strength and conditioning, as well as working with the forwards. In addition to coaching, Carroll is an adjunct instructor in the Health and Physical Education department.
Carroll is married to Carissa, and the two recently welcomed a son - Luke - into the world earlier this year. The three reside in Shoreview, Minn.
Assistant Coach: Darin Thompson (Defenders)
Thompson is a 1992 Bethel graduate where he earned a B.A. in Sports Managment with a minor in Business Management and Coaching. He returns to the men's hockey program for the second year in a coaching capacity where he previously served as an assistant and Associate Head Coach from 1994 - 2004. Thompson enjoyed a stellar playing career while at Bethel, and is a fixture in the team record book for most games played and most consecutive games played (107 for both).
Thompson has been highly involved with high school hockey in the past seven years. From 2005-2008, he served as an assistant at Blaine High School where the team went to the Class AA State Tournament three consecutive seasons. For his roles in team strategy, on-ice instruction, and player development, he earned both Section 4 and Class AA Assistant Coach of the Year honors for the 2006-07 season. After leaving Blaine, he then took the reins as head coach at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis for two seasons.
Thompson currently works at the National Sports Center in Blaine as the ISP/Facility Manager. He and his wife Stacy reside in Forest Lake with their daughters Bailey and Abigail.
Assistant Coach: Matt Millar (Goalies)
