Arizona's Leo Golembiewski Gets Career Win #600

2009-01-09


Leo Golembiewski, University of Arizona

ARIZONA 12, Saint Louis 7

TUCSON, AZ – University of Arizona Head Coach Leo Golembiewski got his 600th career win on Friday, January 9th, with a 12-7 win over Saint Louis University at the Tucson Convention Center.  Robbie Nowinski scored four goals, and Brady Lefferts added three to lead the Icecats.  Leo has coached in every game in the 30-year history of the Icecats.

 

Golembiewski, who achieved 600 wins in only 804 games since founding the Icecats, said the milestone was not something he had talked about with his team.

"I'm glad it's out of the way," he said, as the accomplishment was announced to the departing crowd.

 

A native of Lyons, Illinois, Head Coach Leo Golembiewski came to Tucson, with his wife Paula, in 1979 to establish a serious intercollegiate hockey program at the University of Arizona. As a high school hockey coach at Lyons Township in LaGrange, Illinois, he accumulated a record of 302 wins, 43 losses, and 12 ties from 1972-1979.

 

On January 17, 2003 Leo won his 500th college victory at the University of Arizona, and has accumulated a 600-184-22 career record. His teams have participated in 21 National Collegiate Club Hockey Tournaments, having won a National Championship (1985), been in 8 Final Fours and 10 Elite Eights.

 

Leo graduated from Benet Academy (H.S.) in Lisle, Illinois and received a B.A. in History and a Teacher Certification from Benedictine University (formerly St. Procopius College) in 1971. He was the St. Procopius Eagles' starting goaltender for 4 years establishing 5 playing records. He capped his senior year by being named his team's most valuable player, leading the Eagles to the MIHL playoff championship with a 1.50 playoff goals against average, a 2.63 goals against average, and 2 shutouts during the regular season. He also lettered in baseball and tennis at St. Procopius

 

He was an invite to the St. Louis Blues pro training camp in 1971 held in Flint, Michigan. In 1972 he was a member of the St. Louis Blues rookie camp at the Arena in St, Louis.

 

Considered a protégé of Scotty Bowman, the coach with the most wins in NHL history who has won Stanley Cups in Montreal, Pittsburgh and Detroit, Coach credits much of his success to Bowman's influence and knowledge. Longtime friend, teammate and NHL head coach, Jimmy Roberts and Hall of Fame goaltender, Glenn Hall, have also contributed significantly to Leo's successes as a Player and coach. Solid legendary hockey people -- Emile Francis, the late Sid Abel and the late Lynn Patrick have influenced his coaching style and philosophy.

 

Having received his Master's Degree in Education from the University of Arizona in 1981, Leo feels very fortunate to be a part of such a great community and school like Tucson and the University of Arizona. He taught American Government at Salpoint Catholic High School for six years. He works with Clarence Dupnik and the Pima County Sheriff Department's D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program and holds an annual golf tournament each August for charity. Leo was inducted into the Pima County Sport Hall of Fame in 1996 and inducted as a charter member of the Benedictine University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. He also appeared in "Mr. Warmth - The Don Rickles Project", a movie that won two Emmy Awards this past September. He and Paula will be married over 30 years, and he considers her support and understanding as key factors to his personal success.