Men’s hockey completes coaching staff for the 2026-27 season
August 20, 2026 | Men's Hockey
Brandt, Briere, Pavelski added to staff of the 2026 NCAA finalists
MADISON, Wis. -- Head coach Mike Hastings announced the completion of the Wisconsin men's hockey coaching staff with three significant additions.
Wisconsin 2006 NCAA champion, former assistant coach and recent head coach of the USHL's Madison Capitols Andy Brandt returns as an assistant coach.
Longtime NHL goaltending coach Steve Briere joins the Badgers as Director of Goaltending Development to build on the stellar tradition of the position at Wisconsin.
U.S Hockey Hall of Fame-member, two-time Olympian and 18-year NHL veteran Joe Pavelski officially becomes part of the Wisconsin staff as Director of Player Development.
The trio join Hastings, associate head coach Todd Knott and assistant coach Nick Peruzzi to form one of the most formidable coaching staffs in the country.
Andy Brandt – Assistant Coach
Brandt arrives at the Kohl Center from three years down the road as head coach and general manager of the USHL's Madison Capitols, where he directed the program to 104 regular-season victories and a .599 regular-win percentage. This past season, Brandt led the Capitols to the Conference Finals.
While leading Madison, Brandt served as head coach for the U.S. Junior Select Team that won the 2025 World Junior A Challenge in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.
The Wausau native spent the 2022-23 season as an assistant coach at UW after arriving in Madison from a five-year associate head coaching stint with St. Norbert College. Brandt helped the Green Knights to the 2018 NCAA Division III Championship. The school returned to the NCAA quarterfinals in both 2019 and 2022.
Prior to his tenure with the Green Knights, Brandt spent time as head coach and general manager of the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators. He served as interim head coach of what was then the Gwinnett Gladiators in 2014-15 before taking the reins of the Atlanta Gladiators for the 2015-16 season. He joined the staff as an assistant coach for the 2013-14 season, after playing parts of six seasons with Gwinnett, along with AHL stints for Lake Erie, Manitoba and Abbotsford. He also played part of one season for Victoria of the ECHL.
He played in a team record 357 games with Gwinnett, tallying 76 goals and 192 points. He also served as an assistant captain from 2007-12, before becoming captain for the 2012-13 campaign.
As a Badger, Brandt skated from 2004-07 and was a part of the 2006 National Championship Team. He was voted the Jim Santulli 7th Man Award winner by Badger fans for both the 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons.
"I want to thank the Madison Capitols, Ryan Suter, Andrew Joudrey and Juliette Makara for three great years with the organization," Brandt said. "I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity they gave me and for the relationships and experiences that came with it. Without that opportunity, I wouldn't be in this position today.
"I also want to thank Shawn Eichorst, Jason King and Coach Hastings for the opportunity to return to the University of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is a very special place to me and I'm excited to be back. From the academics and athletics to the campus and community, there's really no place like it. I'm excited to be part of what Coach Hastings and his staff have built over the past three seasons and I'm looking forward to getting back to work."
Mike Hastings on Brandt
"I've been impressed with Andy's impact on the Madison Capitols program over the last three years. His success with USA Hockey along his development of the Capitols from each season's start to finish is something that will make our men's hockey program better. He has shown the ability to impact his player's overall development throughout a season, and we look forward to adding that to our program."
Steve Briere – Director of Goaltending Development
Briere, who boasts 10 years as an NHL head goaltending coach and 12 years overall at that highest level, also spent time coaching at the NCAA, USHL and NAHL levels. He joins the Badger staff as Director of Goaltending Development.
Most recently, Briere spent three seasons coaching the Seattle Kraken goaltenders including Joey Daccord and Philip Grubauer. That followed seven seasons as the head goaltending coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs working with NHL All-Stars Frederik Andersen and Jack Campbell, as well as James Reimer and Curtis McElhinney. He also coached future NHL goaltender Cam Talbot at Alabama-Huntsville.
Raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Briere made coaching stops at UAH in the NCAA, Omaha in the USHL and Topeka in the NAHL.
Briere played in Omaha for Hastings in the USHL, then went on to play at UAH for three seasons and in the professional ranks at the AHL, ECHL, IHL, CHL and BNL levels, among others, for eight more seasons.
He's also known as a renowned speaker at the international hockey level, presenting at the NHL Draft and NHL Coaches Association, IIHF World Championships, Hockey Germany, Hockey Finland and other organizations in the United Kingdom and Sweden.
"Getting to work with Mike Hastings is a big part of this, I was fortunate enough to play for him in Omaha," Briere said. "I also joined the Badgers because it is such a storied program. I remember watching Badger greats Duane Derkson and Kirk Daubenspeck and loved them both. I ended up playing against Kirk later in my career. Graham Melanson was also my goalie partner in Omaha.
"Everywhere Mike has gone, he's been a winner – in the USHL, at Minnesota State and already here at Wisconsin – and I want to be a part of it. Getting to learn along someone who's been around the game for 30 years is special.
"I've been fortunate to learn from and coach with some of the biggest coaching names in hockey. From Jim Hiller, DJ Smith, Mike Babcock, Dave Hakstol and legendary goalie coaches Wayne Thomas, Mitch Korn and Jacques Caron and I look forward to working with this Wisconsin hockey staff."
Hastings on Briere
"I'm honored to have coached Steve in juniors and have admired his career from afar. With his elite resume coaching goaltenders with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken, I'm excited to see the impact he can make to add to the incredible history of the goaltenders who have come through this program."
Joe Pavelski – Director of Player Development
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, UW Athletic Hall of Fame-member and 18-year NHL veteran forward Joe Pavelski will serve as Wisconsin's Director of Player Development.
The leading scorer for UW's 2006 NCAA championship team and an All-American at Wisconsin, the Plover native was a 2003 seventh-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks at No. 205 overall.
Pavelski finished his NHL career in 2024 as the all-time points leader among Badgers in the NHL with 476 goals and 1,068 points in 1,332 games played. He added 74 goals and 143 points in 201 playoff games, leading two teams to the Stanley Cup Final, including San Jose in 2016 when he led the NHL with 14 playoff goals and the Dallas Stars in 2020 when his 13 goals were one shy of the league lead.
Pavelski holds the NHL's American record with 74 playoff goals and is one of just five skaters in NHL history to eclipse 1,000 career points who were drafted in the seventh round or after.
A two-time U.S. Olympian (2010, 2014) and 2010 silver medalist, Pavelski captained Team USA at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and competed at the 2009 World Championship.
Pavelski owns a Wisconsin State Boys Hockey title with Stevens Point Area High School and a Clark Cup title with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks.
Off the ice, Pavelski excels on the golf course, winning the 2025 American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe in California and the celebrity division of the 2025 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. He's also placed as runner-up on three occasions and finished in third place once at the American Century Championship.
"I'm excited to help out at Wisconsin, a place that's close to my heart. Growing up in the state and being a Badger fan, then being able to spend two years winning a national title for the Badgers, it was such a big stepping-stone in my career. I learned so much in how to train and how to be a professional.
"Then when you get to experience the game at the highest levels, to have an opportunity to give back to kids that are all aspiring to get to those same levels, it's very rewarding. You're trying to share as much experience and help some kids along the way to achieve their dreams.
"Moving back to Madison after I retired, spending the last two years here and getting to know the coaching staff – Hastings, Todd Knott, the guys who have been around – has been eye-opening in how much time they put into it and how much they care about this program in getting it to the top. Anytime I'm around them, I leave a better person and a better coach as far as when I've coached at the youth level with my son's team. These guys have done it for so long that it's fun to be around to learn and add in the pieces you can add in. We're all trying to get to that same goal and keep the Badgers on top right where we should be."
Hastings on Pavelski
"Joe has an incredible understanding of what it means to be a Badger, having helped lead Wisconsin to a national championship in 2006 and then going on to have an outstanding career at the NHL and international levels. He has been a captain and leader at every level of the game, and those experiences have shaped him into the person and leader he is today. His hockey knowledge, competitive drive and ability to connect with players will be invaluable to our program. We're excited to welcome Joe back to Wisconsin and have him play an important role in the development of our players, both on and off the ice."
Buy Tickets
Support Men's Hockey
Wisconsin 2006 NCAA champion, former assistant coach and recent head coach of the USHL's Madison Capitols Andy Brandt returns as an assistant coach.
Longtime NHL goaltending coach Steve Briere joins the Badgers as Director of Goaltending Development to build on the stellar tradition of the position at Wisconsin.
U.S Hockey Hall of Fame-member, two-time Olympian and 18-year NHL veteran Joe Pavelski officially becomes part of the Wisconsin staff as Director of Player Development.
The trio join Hastings, associate head coach Todd Knott and assistant coach Nick Peruzzi to form one of the most formidable coaching staffs in the country.
Andy Brandt – Assistant Coach
Brandt arrives at the Kohl Center from three years down the road as head coach and general manager of the USHL's Madison Capitols, where he directed the program to 104 regular-season victories and a .599 regular-win percentage. This past season, Brandt led the Capitols to the Conference Finals.
While leading Madison, Brandt served as head coach for the U.S. Junior Select Team that won the 2025 World Junior A Challenge in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.
The Wausau native spent the 2022-23 season as an assistant coach at UW after arriving in Madison from a five-year associate head coaching stint with St. Norbert College. Brandt helped the Green Knights to the 2018 NCAA Division III Championship. The school returned to the NCAA quarterfinals in both 2019 and 2022.
Prior to his tenure with the Green Knights, Brandt spent time as head coach and general manager of the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators. He served as interim head coach of what was then the Gwinnett Gladiators in 2014-15 before taking the reins of the Atlanta Gladiators for the 2015-16 season. He joined the staff as an assistant coach for the 2013-14 season, after playing parts of six seasons with Gwinnett, along with AHL stints for Lake Erie, Manitoba and Abbotsford. He also played part of one season for Victoria of the ECHL.
He played in a team record 357 games with Gwinnett, tallying 76 goals and 192 points. He also served as an assistant captain from 2007-12, before becoming captain for the 2012-13 campaign.
As a Badger, Brandt skated from 2004-07 and was a part of the 2006 National Championship Team. He was voted the Jim Santulli 7th Man Award winner by Badger fans for both the 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons.
"I want to thank the Madison Capitols, Ryan Suter, Andrew Joudrey and Juliette Makara for three great years with the organization," Brandt said. "I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity they gave me and for the relationships and experiences that came with it. Without that opportunity, I wouldn't be in this position today.
"I also want to thank Shawn Eichorst, Jason King and Coach Hastings for the opportunity to return to the University of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is a very special place to me and I'm excited to be back. From the academics and athletics to the campus and community, there's really no place like it. I'm excited to be part of what Coach Hastings and his staff have built over the past three seasons and I'm looking forward to getting back to work."
Mike Hastings on Brandt
"I've been impressed with Andy's impact on the Madison Capitols program over the last three years. His success with USA Hockey along his development of the Capitols from each season's start to finish is something that will make our men's hockey program better. He has shown the ability to impact his player's overall development throughout a season, and we look forward to adding that to our program."
Steve Briere – Director of Goaltending Development
Briere, who boasts 10 years as an NHL head goaltending coach and 12 years overall at that highest level, also spent time coaching at the NCAA, USHL and NAHL levels. He joins the Badger staff as Director of Goaltending Development.
Most recently, Briere spent three seasons coaching the Seattle Kraken goaltenders including Joey Daccord and Philip Grubauer. That followed seven seasons as the head goaltending coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs working with NHL All-Stars Frederik Andersen and Jack Campbell, as well as James Reimer and Curtis McElhinney. He also coached future NHL goaltender Cam Talbot at Alabama-Huntsville.
Raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Briere made coaching stops at UAH in the NCAA, Omaha in the USHL and Topeka in the NAHL.
Briere played in Omaha for Hastings in the USHL, then went on to play at UAH for three seasons and in the professional ranks at the AHL, ECHL, IHL, CHL and BNL levels, among others, for eight more seasons.
He's also known as a renowned speaker at the international hockey level, presenting at the NHL Draft and NHL Coaches Association, IIHF World Championships, Hockey Germany, Hockey Finland and other organizations in the United Kingdom and Sweden.
"Getting to work with Mike Hastings is a big part of this, I was fortunate enough to play for him in Omaha," Briere said. "I also joined the Badgers because it is such a storied program. I remember watching Badger greats Duane Derkson and Kirk Daubenspeck and loved them both. I ended up playing against Kirk later in my career. Graham Melanson was also my goalie partner in Omaha.
"Everywhere Mike has gone, he's been a winner – in the USHL, at Minnesota State and already here at Wisconsin – and I want to be a part of it. Getting to learn along someone who's been around the game for 30 years is special.
"I've been fortunate to learn from and coach with some of the biggest coaching names in hockey. From Jim Hiller, DJ Smith, Mike Babcock, Dave Hakstol and legendary goalie coaches Wayne Thomas, Mitch Korn and Jacques Caron and I look forward to working with this Wisconsin hockey staff."
Hastings on Briere
"I'm honored to have coached Steve in juniors and have admired his career from afar. With his elite resume coaching goaltenders with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken, I'm excited to see the impact he can make to add to the incredible history of the goaltenders who have come through this program."
Joe Pavelski – Director of Player Development
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, UW Athletic Hall of Fame-member and 18-year NHL veteran forward Joe Pavelski will serve as Wisconsin's Director of Player Development.
The leading scorer for UW's 2006 NCAA championship team and an All-American at Wisconsin, the Plover native was a 2003 seventh-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks at No. 205 overall.
Pavelski finished his NHL career in 2024 as the all-time points leader among Badgers in the NHL with 476 goals and 1,068 points in 1,332 games played. He added 74 goals and 143 points in 201 playoff games, leading two teams to the Stanley Cup Final, including San Jose in 2016 when he led the NHL with 14 playoff goals and the Dallas Stars in 2020 when his 13 goals were one shy of the league lead.
Pavelski holds the NHL's American record with 74 playoff goals and is one of just five skaters in NHL history to eclipse 1,000 career points who were drafted in the seventh round or after.
A two-time U.S. Olympian (2010, 2014) and 2010 silver medalist, Pavelski captained Team USA at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and competed at the 2009 World Championship.
Pavelski owns a Wisconsin State Boys Hockey title with Stevens Point Area High School and a Clark Cup title with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks.
Off the ice, Pavelski excels on the golf course, winning the 2025 American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe in California and the celebrity division of the 2025 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. He's also placed as runner-up on three occasions and finished in third place once at the American Century Championship.
"I'm excited to help out at Wisconsin, a place that's close to my heart. Growing up in the state and being a Badger fan, then being able to spend two years winning a national title for the Badgers, it was such a big stepping-stone in my career. I learned so much in how to train and how to be a professional.
"Then when you get to experience the game at the highest levels, to have an opportunity to give back to kids that are all aspiring to get to those same levels, it's very rewarding. You're trying to share as much experience and help some kids along the way to achieve their dreams.
"Moving back to Madison after I retired, spending the last two years here and getting to know the coaching staff – Hastings, Todd Knott, the guys who have been around – has been eye-opening in how much time they put into it and how much they care about this program in getting it to the top. Anytime I'm around them, I leave a better person and a better coach as far as when I've coached at the youth level with my son's team. These guys have done it for so long that it's fun to be around to learn and add in the pieces you can add in. We're all trying to get to that same goal and keep the Badgers on top right where we should be."
Hastings on Pavelski
"Joe has an incredible understanding of what it means to be a Badger, having helped lead Wisconsin to a national championship in 2006 and then going on to have an outstanding career at the NHL and international levels. He has been a captain and leader at every level of the game, and those experiences have shaped him into the person and leader he is today. His hockey knowledge, competitive drive and ability to connect with players will be invaluable to our program. We're excited to welcome Joe back to Wisconsin and have him play an important role in the development of our players, both on and off the ice."
Buy Tickets
Support Men's Hockey
Tuesday, August 11
Thursday, April 16
Saturday, April 11
Friday, April 10
