Danton Cole Hometown: Pontiac, Michigan Last College: Michigan State, 1991 Position: Assistant Coach

Danton Cole begins his second year with the Bowling Green hockey team.

Last season Cole coached the Falcon defenseman, which saw five of their six regulars set new career-bests in points. He also helped coach Kyle Page, who was named the Falcons Top Defensive Player of the Year, while he also was named to the CCHA Honorable Mention All-Rookie Team.

Cole comes to BGSU after serving as the head coach of the Motor City Mechanics for the past two seasons, where he compiled a 58-32-6 record.

Prior to his time in the Motor City, Cole served as the head coach of Grand Rapids (AHL) for three seasons (2002-04). In his three seasons with the Griffins Cole recorded 116-72-17 (.607) record, and is the winningest coach in Grand Rapids history.

He was also an assistant with Grand Rapids for two seasons where they were 104-40-0. Overal he owns a 222-126-27 record as a head coach for his career.

Cole received his first head coaching duty in 2001-02 with the Muskegon Fury (UHL), where he helped lead the team to a 48-22 overall record, as well as a league championship.

A native of Pontiac, Mich., Cole played four seasons for the Spartans of Michigan State. In his four years with MSU Cole compiled 163 points (69g, 94a) in 180 games and was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. The 180 games played as a Spartan is still a school record.

While at Michigan State, Cole and the Spartans advanced to the Frozen Four three of the four year, finishing first, second and third. He was named Team MVP his senior year and earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor for student-athlete of the year. He also won the Jim Ruehl Award from BGSU for most honorable opponent in 1988-89.

Cole played 11 seasons of professional hockey, including stints with the Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks and winning the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 1995. Cole amassed 118 points and 125 penalty minutes in 318 NHL games.

Cole and his wife Debbie have three daughters (Ashton, Madeleine and Payton.