Mark Osiecki returned to his alma mater for the 2016–17 season and quickly made an impact, helping the team to a 20-15-1 record in his first season as associate head coach.
The Badgers have since won a Big Ten regular-season title and returned to the NCAA tournament.
Known around North America as a stellar defensive coach, his impact has also been felt on the recruiting trail, with UW’s blue line including a pair of first-round draft picks during his return and with talented future classes lined up. Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk and New York Rangers rearguard K'Andre Miller are among UW's next generation of NHL standouts.
Osiecki returned to coach in Madison after serving as the associate head coach for the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs for the previous two years.
A native of Burnsville, Minnesota, Osiecki was the head coach at Ohio State from 2010–13 following a successful stint as an assistant and associate head coach with Wisconsin. During his time with the Badgers from 2004–10, Osiecki was the recruiting coordinator and defensive coach, helping UW win the NCAA title in 2006. Twenty-two of the Badgers who played for Wisconsin during the six seasons Osiecki was part of the coaching staff went on to play in the NHL. Of the 22 players, 10 were defensemen, including NHLers Ryan McDonagh, Justin Schultz, Tom Gilbert, Jake Gardiner, Brendan Smith, Jamie McBain and Cody Goloubef.
Osiecki also served as a coach on the international level, helping the U.S. win gold at the 2010 and 2013 World Junior Championships and bronze at the 2011 tournament as an assistant coach. He was head coach of the squad in 2015. The 2010 gold medal team featured former UW players Jake Gardiner, John Ramage and Derek Stepan, while the 2013 gold-medal squad included Jake McCabe.
Prior to his first stint in Madison, Osiecki was the head coach of the Green Bay Gamblers from 1997–2004, leading the team to the Clark Cup in 2000. The 1999 USHL Coach of the Year, his squad won four-straight division crowns from 1999–2002. More than 65 Gamblers advanced to NCAA Division I hockey playing careers while 17 were drafted by NHL squads.
He spent the 1996–97 season as an assistant at North Dakota, helping the team to the 1997 NCAA crown.
Osiecki enjoyed a six-year professional career, including two years in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota North Stars. He also represented the United States as a player at the 1992 World Championship.
A three-year letterwinner on defense for the Cardinal and White from 1987–90, Osiecki served as an alternate captain for the 1990 NCAA Championship team, the program’s fifth national championship squad. During the NCAA title season, he collected career highs with 38 assists and 43 points and earned a spot on the Frozen Four all-tournament team.
Osiecki and his wife, Robin, are the parents of a daughter, Emily, and a son, Jake.
