BOWLING GREEN — The hockey program at Bowling Green State University survived the storm of budget constraints, and rebuilt itself into a nationally relevant program once again.
The new challenge for Bowling Green is to stay there — and the Falcons believe their answer was behind the bench all along.
BGSU formally introduced Ty Eigner as its next hockey coach on Tuesday at the Stroh Center, and Eigner will be tasked with building upon the success of Chris Bergeron, under whom Eigner was an assistant for the past nine seasons.
Eigner, a former Falcons defenseman who served as the team’s captain during his senior season in 1992-93, officially took over as the head coach of his alma mater.
During an emotional speech — Eigner said he would try to “get through this without being a blubbering idiot, but I can’t make any promises,” — he expressed his gratitude for the chance to lead the program he once watched win the 1984 national championship as an adolescent in Minnesota.
“It means the world to me,” Eigner said at his introductory news conference. “I couldn’t be more proud to be standing in front of you today. I really couldn’t.”
Eigner agreed to a six-year, $1.35 million contract with Bowling Green that will pay him $200,000 next season.
Eigner played an imperative behind-the-scenes role during Bowling Green’s ascent from bottom feeder to a consistent winner again. BGSU considered dissolving the program in 2009, and went 5-25-6 the next season before the hiring of Bergeron and his staff.
This coaching search was different, with BGSU director of athletics Bob Moosbrugger saying he had a top-15 program to sell to prospective candidates.
“Certainly, there was a great responsibility to make sure we had the right person for this job,” Moosbrugger said.
Fifteen days after Bergeron left for Miami, Moosbrugger had his answer in Eigner.
Despite the dire circumstances a decade ago, the Falcons were signing professional caliber players again and developing a roster that could compete in their conference. BG has won at least 20 games five years in a row, and the program’s NCAA tournament appearance last season was its first in 29 years, when Eigner was still on the team as a player.
Eigner said he believed BG was in good shape for whomever took over for Bergeron.
“We were confident that, no matter who took over this program, they were going to take over a program that was in a good spot and had been built the right way,” Eigner said. “That’s a testament to the players.”
Bowling Green hopes for a measure of stability by hiring within the program. Eigner has first-hand knowledge of how to win at Bowling Green, and his success recruiting hotspots like Ontario and Minnesota made him an attractive candidate from the start.
“I think the passion that he shows, the kids can really see that,” said defenseman Alec Rauhauser, whom Eigner named BGSU’s captain for next season. “It shows that this is a good place to come to and [recruits] believe it, coming from him.”
Eigner said he watched Bergeron’s news conference at Miami and hoped that he, too, could have a chance to lead his school.
Now Eigner has the opportunity, and the Falcons have a standard once again coming off an NCAA tournament season.
With Eigner in charge, the Falcons hope for the continuation of the program’s upward trajectory.
“I think it takes the tension out of the room because you know what you’re going to get in Ty,” assistant captain Connor Ford said. “You know you’re going to get the best. It takes a lot of unknowns out of the question.
“Moving forward, it’s business as usual. We can get right back to it and have the same type of year and better in the future.”
First Published April 23, 2019, 11:56 p.m.
