Mike Mankowski is in his fourth season on the Canisius staff as an assistant coach. Mankowski is responsible for recruiting and assisting in the day-to-day operations of the Golden Griffin hockey program.
As the Golden Griffins’ top recruiter, Mankowski’s first two recruiting classes have earned a number of accolades. His first class earned 12 league weekly honors, the most of any Division I team in the country, while his second class included the top two scorers in Atlantic Hockey. Following each season, one of Mankowski’s recruits were named to the Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team.
Prior to joining the Golden Griffins, Mankowski served as the head coach of the Toledo IceDiggers for four seasons and functioning as the team’s general manager since 2003. In that time frame, Mankowski led the IceDiggers to a Continental Elite Hockey League (CEHL) Championship in 2002 and a runner-up finish in 2003.
Under Mankowski, the IceDiggers moved to the North American Hockey League in 2004 and finished sixth in the NAHL’s North Division in his last two seasons. As head coach and general manager of the IceDiggers, Mankowski was responsible for organizing and executing all on-ice skill development and training, as well as managing all aspects of marketing, public relations and community outreach programs.
Mankowski also served as an assistant coach and scout for the Toledo Storm of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) from 2000-2003 and was the head coach of St. John’s Jesuit High School in Toledo from 1991-2001, where he led the team to six Ohio high school state frozen four appearances.
Mankowski also worked with USA Hockey as a coach in the Mid-American District since 1997, leading numerous players who now participate at the NCAA or professional level while overseeing all aspects of team selection and team building for participation at the Select Festival.
Mankowski earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Toledo in 1990. Mankowski and his wife, Colleen, have three children, Jocelyn (16), Reid (14), and Drew (12).
