Don Granato

Title

Associate Head Coach

Don Granato arrives in Madison after working nearly five seasons as a head coach with the U.S. National Team Development Program (US NTDP). While with the US NTDP, Granato helped develop some of the world's best young players, including UW All-American Luke Kunin, as well as other 2016 NHL first-round draft picks and now NHL stars in Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk, among others.

Working in two-year cycles with the US NTDP, Granato was head coach of the 2015-16 U.S. Under-17 Team after directing the U.S. Under-18 Team in 2014-15. The squad won the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 World Championship. He also led the 2013 Under-18 team to silver at the tournament, while coaching the 2014 U.S. Under-17 National Team to a title at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2012 U.S. Under-17 National Team to a second-place finish at the Challenge.

Granato's 2014-15 Under-18 National Team went 9-7-2 against NCAA Division I and III competition, while the 2012-13 U.S. Under-18 squad recorded an 11-6-4 record against NCAA Division I and III schools to earn the best winning percentage (.619) against collegiate teams in NTDP history.

Along with his duties with the U.S. National Team Development Program, Don Granato served as an assistant coach under Mark Osiecki with the 2015 U.S. World Junior Team, and as an assistant coach for the U.S. at the 2014 IIHF World Championship, coaching former UW standouts Jake Gardiner, Jake McCabe and Craig Smith.

Like his brother Tony, Don Granato has NHL coaching experience, serving as an assistant for the St. Louis Blues during the 2005-06 season, but also spent years as a head coach in junior and minor-league hockey.

Before the NHL stint, Don enjoyed five years at the helm of the AHL's Worcester IceCats (2000-05), earning recognition as league coach of the year in his debut season. That followed an ECHL title with the Peoria Rivermen (1999-2000). He also spent two seasons as coach for the ECHL's Columbus Chill and three seasons for the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers. The three years in Green Bay included a Clark Cup championship, a pair of Anderson Cups and two Junior 'A' national titles. He also directed the USHL's Wisconsin Capitals in 1993-94.

During his playing career at Wisconsin, Granato helped Wisconsin win the 1990 NCAA title and ended his UW playing career with 88 points on 45 goals and 43 assists. Granato served as one of the Badgers' captains during the 1990-91 season when he tallied a career-high 14 goals and 14 assists.

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