Pat Mikesch enters his eighth season as Head Coach/General Manager. He is the seventh head coach/GM in the 28-year history of the Gamblers franchise.
Mikesch trails only Mark Osiecki in wins, compiling a 191-166-43 record over seven seasons with the Gamblers. NHL Draft Picks coached by Mikesch include first-round picks Jordan Schmaltz (St. Louis Blues/2012), Nick Schmaltz (Chicago Blackhawks/2014) and Casey Mittlestadt (Buffalo Sabres/2017). Overall, 33 players selected in the NHL Entry Draft, have adorned the Gamblers jersey during Mikesch’s coaching career in Green Bay. In the summer of 2018 Mikesch was selected as an assistant coach for the United States World Junior Summer Camp in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. The camp is the initial stage of picking the U20 United States team that will participate in the World Junior Championships this December and January in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Prior to being named head coach, Mikesch served as a volunteer assistant under Eric Rud towards the end of the 2010-11 season, and three years as the Associate Head Coach/Director of Player Personnel under Derek Lalonde (2011-14). In 2011-12, Mikesch guided the Gamblers to the Anderson and Clark Cups. Team’s regular-season mark of 47-9-4 set a USHL Tier 1 record for wins in a season, fewest loses, points in a season (98), and road victories in a season (25). Team included current NHL players Alex Broadhurst (Columbus Blue Jackets), Dakota Mermis (Arizona Coyotes) Jordan Schmaltz (St. Louis Blues) and Andy Welinski (Anaheim Ducks).
Prior to his time in Green Bay, Mikesch spent six seasons as an assistant coach at his Alma mater, Michigan Tech University (Western Collegiate Hockey Association). On the international level, Mikesch has led the United States U-17 team to three straight gold medals at the Five Nations Cup (2011, 2012 & 2013). In Mikesch’s three years behind the bench at the Five Nations Cup, the U.S. team is a perfect 15-0-0
Mikesch was a four-year member (1992-96) of Michigan Tech’s hockey team. The Hancock, Michigan native helped the Huskies to three WCHA Final Fives in four years. During his freshman campaign, Mikesch was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team as well as Michigan Tech’s Freshman of the Year. Mikesch was a three-time member of the WCHA ALL-Academic Team and served as the Huskies team captain for the 1995-96 season. Mikesch is one of the most decorated players to ever adorn the Huskies jersey, as he ranks seventh all-time in scoring with 169 points (57 goals and 112 assists). After his collegiate career, Mikesch played eight years of professional hockey in the AHL, IHL, ECHL and in Germany.
Mikesch is no stranger to the USHL spending a pair of seasons with the Des Moines Buccaneers (1990-92). Mikesch was a teammate of former Gamblers head coach Eric Rud on the 1992 Buccaneers team that captured the Clark Cup.
Pat and his wife Amiee currently reside in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They have two sons, Austin and Eliott and a daughter, Kallianne.
