Bob Daniels Bob Daniels is an American ice hockey coach , currently in charge at Ferris State , a position he has held since 1992 . Career . Daniels began his coaching career shortly after graduating from Michigan State with a Bachelor of Arts in accounting , becoming the head coach for the Hennessey Engineers of the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League . After three seasons in Plymouth , Michigan , Daniels returned to college , this time attending Miami University and earning a Master ' s in sports organization while serving as a graduate assistant for the RedHawks in 1986 – 87 . The next season saw Daniels as a full - time college assistant for Illinois - Chicago and in his second season the Flames saw their best performance , finishing 3rd in the CCHA and advancing out of the first round in the conference tournament for the first time . After the two - year stint Daniels moved back to Michigan , becoming an assistant at Ferris State under John Perpich . After a disappointing season in 1989 – 90 Bob Mancini replaced Perpich but Daniels was retained as an assistant . The first season under the new coach saw the Bulldogs post their first 20 - win season in a decade but then slipped back under . 500 in 1991 – 92 . Mancini left to take over at Michigan Tech , leaving the door open for Daniels to take the reins . In his first season leading the team Daniels got the Bulldogs to another 20 - win campaign , but it would be six more years before he could provide the Ferris State faithful win another winning season . Daniels ' continued on in his position despite the lack of consistent success and rewarded the Bulldogs with their first 30 - win season in 2002 – 03 . Ferris State won its first regular season conference title that year and fell one game short of its first conference tournament championship , falling to Michigan 5 - 3 in the final . With their superb record , Ferris State received an at - large bid to the 2003 NCAA Tournament , their first appearance in the championship , and downed perennial power North Dakota in the regional semifinal before being eliminated . Daniels coached his first Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2003 and while Chris Kunitz failed to capture the award , Daniels himself received both the CCHA Coach of the Year and Spencer Penrose Award . Over the course of the next decade the Bulldogs hovered around the . 500 mark until 2011 – 12 when Daniels got Ferris State its second regular season title , and NCAA Tournament appearance . The 2012 Tournament saw a better result for the team as they won each of their first three games while allowing only 1 goal in each game . They , unfortunately , couldn ' t stop the # 1 overall seed Boston College Eagles from taking the crown , losing 4 - 1 in the championship game . The season did finish with a silver lining as Daniels received his second CCHA Coach of the Year and Spencer Penrose Awards . The following season was Ferris State ' s last in the CCHA when the conference dissolved after the realignment resulting from the formation of the Big Ten . They joined the WCHA beginning in 2013 – 14 and got off to a fast start , winning the regular season title with a 29 - win year and making their third NCAA berth , losing a double overtime game to North Dakota in the regional finals . For his efforts Daniels was awarded the WCHA Coach of the Year Award .