Wolverines Appoint Rick DeSana to Lead Men's Ice Hockey Program
No stranger to the Wolverines bench, DeSana will lead the Wolverines men's hockey program after being a long-time assistant.
DEARBORN, Mich. -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn Department of Athletics & Recreation has announced the hiring of Rick DeSana as the next head coach of the Wolverines' men's ice hockey program.
DeSana becomes the program's new leader after serving as an assistant coach with the Wolverines since 2016. During his time behind the bench, he helped guide the Wolverines to seven ACHA National Tournament appearances, five top-10 national rankings, and contributed to two regular-season conference championships and five conference tournament championships.
"Rick has been an integral part of our program's success over the years, and we are excited to elevate him into this role," said Director of Athletics & Recreation Bryan Earl. "He understands what it takes to compete at a high level in the ACHA, and his commitment to our student-athletes makes him the right choice to lead our program forward."
In addition to his work at UM-Dearborn, DeSana has extensive experience developing talent across multiple levels of hockey. He was selected for the Team Michigan coaching staff in 2025, where he assisted with player selection and worked closely with forwards, focusing on offensive skill development and situational play while helping prepare the team for elite competition.
DeSana has also served as the head coach at Riverview Gabriel Richard High School since 2006, where he has built a consistently competitive and academically successful program. Under his leadership, the team has earned nine Regional Championships and made four State Semifinal appearances. His teams have also maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for 20 consecutive years, with numerous players advancing to the collegiate level.
DeSana had a brief playing career, playing for the Melvindale Blades and the Detroit Junior Red Wings in the North American Hockey League. Before his time in the NAHL, DeSana played at Riverview Gabrield Richard High School from 1986 to 1989.
