Photo by: David Stluka
Granato named U.S. Men’s National Team head coach
March 25, 2026 | Men's Hockey
1990 NCAA champ to lead American team at World Championship
MADISON, Wis. – Former Wisconsin player and associate head coach Don Granato will serve as head coach of the 2026 U.S. Men's National Team at the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship this spring, USA Hockey announced on Wednesday.
The tournament runs May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.
A member of Wisconsin's 1990 NCAA Championship team and a team captain his senior year, Granato (1987-91) most recently served as head coach of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres (2020-24). He spent the 2016-17 season as Wisconsin associate head coach.
Granato owns coaching experience at all levels of hockey, including the NHL, AHL and ECHL, as well as USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and in the USHL.
This will mark the seventh time Granato will serve as either head or assistant coach of a U.S. national team, including three times as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men's National Team (2014, 2018, 2022), once as an assistant with the U.S. National Junior Team (2015) and twice with the U.S. Under-18 Team (2013, 2015).
Granato joins former Badger players Mike Eaves (USA - 2006) and Greg Poss (Germany - 2005) as head coach of a national team for the world championship. UW head coaches Bob Johnson (1973, 1974, 1975, 1981) and Jeff Sauer (1995) also both led the U.S. National Team for the world championship as a head coach, while UW assistant coach John Hynes directed the US team in 2024.
The tournament runs May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.
A member of Wisconsin's 1990 NCAA Championship team and a team captain his senior year, Granato (1987-91) most recently served as head coach of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres (2020-24). He spent the 2016-17 season as Wisconsin associate head coach.
Granato owns coaching experience at all levels of hockey, including the NHL, AHL and ECHL, as well as USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and in the USHL.
This will mark the seventh time Granato will serve as either head or assistant coach of a U.S. national team, including three times as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men's National Team (2014, 2018, 2022), once as an assistant with the U.S. National Junior Team (2015) and twice with the U.S. Under-18 Team (2013, 2015).
Granato joins former Badger players Mike Eaves (USA - 2006) and Greg Poss (Germany - 2005) as head coach of a national team for the world championship. UW head coaches Bob Johnson (1973, 1974, 1975, 1981) and Jeff Sauer (1995) also both led the U.S. National Team for the world championship as a head coach, while UW assistant coach John Hynes directed the US team in 2024.
Highlights || Penn State
Thursday, March 05
Highlights || #2 Michigan
Friday, February 20
Mike Hastings Weekly Media Conference || Wisconsin Men's Hockey || Feb. 17, 2026
Tuesday, February 17
Highlights || Ohio State || Feb. 13
Friday, February 13
