Anchorage Daily News

Convinced three consecutive last-place conference finishes do not accurately reflect improvements in UAA's hockey program and that a breakthrough is imminent, athletic director Steve Cobb has signed head coach Dave Shyiak to a four-year contract extension.

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Dave Shyiak

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Shyiak, 41, is in the final season of his initial four-year deal, and the extension the school announced Tuesday runs through the 2012-13 season.

Shyiak, who earns a base salary of $103,000 this season as UAA's highest-paid coach, will earn a salary of $110,000 in 2009-10. With annual raises averaging $3,333, Shyiak's salary would be $120,000 in the last season of the extension.

Like his initial contract, Shyiak's extension is laden with bonuses linked to team success, improved attendance at Sullivan Arena and players' academic achievement.

Shyiak last season earned $100,000 in salary and an additional $5,000 in bonuses -- $3,000 for the team's grade-point average (3.03) and $2,000 for winning the annual Governor's Cup against rival UAF.

Under a provision of the extension, a winning season in either of the first two seasons of the deal will earn Shyiak an automatic two-year extension that runs through the 2014-15 season.

Though UAA went just 7-21-8 overall last season, finished last in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and won just one its last 19 games, Cobb said several factors convinced him to extend Shyiak's tenure.

Cobb pointed to the team's many close games. Fourteen of the Seawolves' 21 losses came by two goals or fewer. In three other losses, the opponent scored a late empty-net goal, essentially making them two-goal losses, too.

He said the Seawolves' academic performance under Shyiak and their sound conduct off the ice demonstrate the coach is developing well-rounded young adults.

"I'm confident where the program is going, and I'm confident Dave is going to improve things,'' Cobb said. "Fundamentally, I'm happy with the way we played (last season).

"I haven't been happy with the wins and losses, but we believe in Dave and we made an honest-faith effort to reward him for his work.''

Shyiak, who came to UAA after 10 years as assistant coach and associate head coach at his alma mater, Northern Michigan, said he's eager to continue building the Seawolves.

"It provides the program with stability and continuity, and that's important for any successful college hockey program,'' Shyiak said. "I'm certainly appreciative and grateful Dr. Cobb and his administration are supportive, and have belief in the program.''

The Seawolves have gone 26-69-14 (.303 winning percentage) in three seasons under Shyiak.

With Shyiak behind the bench, the Seawolves have won the last two Governor's Cups, gone unbeaten (6-0-2) against UAF in the last two seasons and gone unbeaten in nonconference play (8-0-4) in the last two seasons, as well.

Though the Seawolves' record slipped last season after they went 13-21-3 in Shyiak's second season, the coach believes the team improved. UAA last season surrendered the fewest goals per game (3.1) and shots on goal per game (25.8) in his three seasons.

"I thought we were a better team, and if you talk to the (WCHA) coaches, they'll tell you we were a tough team to play against,'' Shyiak said. "I think this year we'll be better, and on paper we're a more veteran team.

"We've made progress, and I'm happy with that. Am I happy with where we've finished in the standings? Absolutely not.''

Two seasons ago, Shyiak nearly guided the Seawolves into the WCHA Final Five -- the team has advanced to that conference tournament in St. Paul, Minn., just once since its 1993 debut in the league playoffs. But UAA fell in three games at Minnesota.

UAA last season took Colorado College to overtime in the Seawolves' season-ending playoff loss in Colorado Springs.

Still, the Seawolves won just three of 30 regular-season and playoff games against WCHA opponents last season. They went 0-18-2 against the top five teams in the powerful 10-team league.

Shyiak and Cobb signed the extension a week ago, and said their negotiations were seamless.

"It was obvious from Day 1 that I wanted him to stay here and he wanted to be here,'' Cobb said.

Shyiak said getting the deal done proved simple.

"Our discussions were pretty much a handshake -- 'Let's write it up and get it signed,' " he said.

Both Cobb and Shyiak say a trip to the Final Five is a program goal, and the athletic director said hosting a first-round WCHA playoff series is another carrot.

"We're on a mission to host a playoff game,'' Cobb said. "That's the last never-been-done thing around here.''

UAA opens its regular season Oct. 10 with its four-team Kendall Hockey Classic at Sullivan Arena.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

The details of Dave Shyiak's deal

BASE SALARY

2009-10 -- $110,0002011-12-- $117,000

2010-11 -- $115,0002012-13 -- $120,000

Performance bonuses (Only highest achieved will be paid in any season):

• $8,000 for WCHA Championship

• $6,000 for NCAA tournament berth

• $4,000 for a winning season

Performance bonuses (All can be paid in any season):

• $8,000 for NCAA Championship

• $8,000 for hosting WCHA first-round playoff series

• $4,000 for team grade-point average above 3.0 for fall and spring semester

• $3,000 for WCHA Coach of the Year

• $2,500 for Governor's Cup title

Attendance bonuses (All can be paid in any season):

• $2,500 for average attendance of 4,800

• $3,000 for average attendance of 5,500

• $3,000 for average attendance of 6,000

Other benefits:

• Use of a sponsor-provided vehicle

• 20 tickets (10 reserved, 10 general admission) to each UAA home hockey game

• 4 Great Alaska Shootout ticket packages

• 1 round-trip airline ticket for spouse travel to annual WCHA meeting

• Proceeds from Seawolf Hockey Camp (details pending)

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