Rick Duffett (born July 8, 1946) is a Canadian retired ice hockey player and coach. Duffett was an administrator and coach with Ferris State University for more than 30 years before retiring in 2008.[1]

Rick Duffett
Biographical details
Born (1946-06-08) June 8, 1946 (age 78)
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Alma materMichigan State
Playing career
1967–1971Michigan State
Position(s)Goaltender
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1972–1973Sault Area High
1975–1982Ferris State
Head coaching record
Overall119-83-7 (.586)

Career

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Rick Duffett began attending Michigan State University in the fall of 1966 joining the ice hockey program on the heels of their first national title. After sitting out his freshman season per NCAA regulations[2] Duffett hit the ice with the Spartans for the 1967–68 season. In his three undergraduate seasons the team finished with losing records but after graduating in 1970 Duffett remained in East Lansing to finish his master's, appearing in 6 more games over the course of the season.[3]

After an abortive attempt at a professional career Duffett turned to coaching, leading Sault Area High for a time before finding his way behind the bench of the newly created NAIA program at Ferris State. Duffett was able to shepherd the Bulldogs to early success in the NAIA, finishing well above .500 in his first three seasons before his first losing campaign as Ferris State was moving to become an NCAA Division I program. Beginning with the 1979–80 season the Bulldogs were a member of the CCHA and reached the conference tournament final in their first season. After a second 20-win season at the NCAA level[4] Duffett's team was joined in the CCHA by 4 former WCHA teams (finishing behind all four in 1981–82) but Duffett had already made plans to leave the team after the season's conclusion.[5]

With his coaching career over Duffett returned to Michigan State to earn a PhD but couldn't stay away from Big Rapids for long, joining Ferris State's administration and working his way up to a vice presidential role before announcing his retirement in 2008.

Head coaching record

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College

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Ferris State Bulldogs (NAIA) (1975–1979)
1975–76 Ferris State 15-6-0
1976–77 Ferris State 17-4-1
1977–78 Ferris State 16-6-0
1978–79 Ferris State 10-24-0
Ferris State: 58-40-1
Ferris State Bulldogs (CCHA) (1979–1982)
1979–80 Ferris State 26-11-1 11-9-0 3rd CCHA Runner-Up
1980–81 Ferris State 20-14-2 13-9-0 3rd CCHA Semifinals
1981–82 Ferris State 15-18-3 13-15-2 6th CCHA Quarterfinals
Ferris State: 61-43-6 37-33-2
Total: 119-83-7

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[6]

Awards and honors

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Award Year
AHCA West All-American 1968–69 [7]

References

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  1. ^ "After three decades of service, Duffett ready to step aside". Ferris State University. 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  2. ^ "Freshman ineligibility? Conference commissioners at least considering it". CBS Sports. 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
  3. ^ "Rick Duffett". Hockey DB. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  4. ^ "Ferris State Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  5. ^ "Ferris Hockey Coach Resigns". Ludington Daily News. 1982-02-22. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  6. ^ "Rick Duffett Year-by-Year Coaching Record". USCHO.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  7. ^ "1968-1969 All-American Team". The American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
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