# @d3hky on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ_pf2rOb48
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/67239201-d3hky-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/08b09ce803.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-06-25T16:00:06.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** D3 Hockey (@d3hky) — https://gondola.cc/d3hky

## Caption

On Wednesday, June 24th, Augsburg University announced the hiring of Zach Stepan as new head coach for the men’s ice hockey program. He is the sixth head coach in the modern era, dating back to 1959, in the programs history.

Stepan, a native of Faribault, MN, is a 2017 graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato where he was a four-year player for the Mavericks. He accumulated 24 goals & 35 assists for 59 points in 136 career games. Stepan was a 2012 4th-round draft pick of the Nashville Predators and played for the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) but his playing career ended due to injuries after just eight minor-league games.

Stepan’s coaching career began during the 2018-2019 season when he joined the Chippewa Steel (NAHL) as an assistant coach mid-season. For the next two seasons, he’d be head coach for the New Ulm Steel (NA3HL) before shifting back to the NAHL. With assistant coaching stints with the Aberdeen Wings and the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers, he’d join the Minnesota Wilderness organization as general manager and head coach the last two seasons.

In his first season with the Wilderness in 2024-25, the squad went 30-25-4, finishing fifth in the NAHL’s Midwest Division and just missing out on a spot in the league playoffs. For the 2025-2026 season, the Wilderness finished 42-12-5, winning the NAHL’s Midwest Division and advancing to the league’s Robertson Cup championship game, where they lost 3-2 in overtime to the Maryland Black Bears. The Wilderness went 8-3 in its playoff run leading up to the Robertson Cup final, winning three series. As head coach and president, Stepan led the Wilderness’ hockey operations, overseeing player development and roster and staff management, managing the team’s business operations, including sponsorships and community partnerships, media relations, fundraising and camps.

H/T: augsburgauggies 

#NCAAHockey | #D3hky

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## Tags

d3hky, ncaahockey

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