With an 11-0 victory against Prairie Centre on Nov. 26 in St. Cloud, first-year Northern Lakes coach Mike Randolph set the record for most career victories as a Minnesota high school boys hockey coach with 708.
Fast forward to this season’s end and the longtime coach directed his new team to its second Class 1A state tournament while increasing his career victories count to 727. Randolph’s run with the school, which is a co-op among several school districts including Pequot Lakes, Aitkin, Crosby-Ironton and Pine River-Backus, has ended after one season.
The Lightning, as they are called, went 20-8-1 this season, which ended in the consolation semifinals. They lost to eventual state champion East Grand Forks in the state quarterfinals.
Randolph announced his departure Monday night at the team banquet, assistant coach Tom Klein confirmed.
“He’s done it for 47 years,” Klein said.
Bringing four schools together under one umbrella might have raised red flags for some potential coaches, but Randolph said at the state tournament last week multiple schools is what drew him to the job.
“When I asked what time the team practiced, they told me 4:45 \[p.m.\],” Randolph said. “I asked what time the kids get out of school. I was told 2:15. I asked ‘Then why do you practice at 4:45?’ They said because the kids have to travel from all over to get there. Right there, I said ‘I’m in the right place.’ Because I love this game and I’ll be surrounded by guys that love this game and will do anything to play this game.”
As one of the most successful coaches in Minnesota history, Randolph understands what’s needed to take a program to the next level. Most of his victories came in 32 years as coach at Duluth East. He led the Greyhounds to the state tournament 18 times and won Class 2A state championships in 1995 and 1998. He resigned his Greyhounds post in June 2021 [amid an investigation](https://www.startribune.com/duluth-east-hockey-coach-mike-randolph-resigns-amid-investigation/600063796) stemming from complaints.