1980 Miracle Coach Herb Brooks Killed In Car Accident

Herb Brooks, legendary coach of the 1980 Olympic gold medal 'Miracle on Ice' team, was killed in a single vehicle accident on August 11th, 2003 on Interstate 35 near Forest Lake. Brooks was 66.

Brooks ranks as arguably one of the best and most influential coaches in American hockey history. After a playing career that saw him play for the University of Minnesota, five U.S. National teams and the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Hockey teams, Brooks turned to coaching alma matter for seven years, where he won three NCAA Championships.

Brooks later turned pro, coaching for the New York Rangers, where he was named 1982 NHL Coach of the Year; the Minnesota North Stars, and the New Jersey Devils.

But Brooks is best known for coaching a bunch of unheard of collegians to the greatest upset in Olympic, hockey and maybe even sporting history. The Soviet national hockey team was at their pinnacle of their success, yet somehow Brooks guided these kids to a stunning gold that even Hollywood dared not dream of. 

Hollywood glorified the story in a movie starring Karl Malden as Brooks. Another movie, starring Kurt Russell as Brooks, is in production now.

Brooks, who was the last player cut from the 1960 Miracle On Ice United States Olympic team, also coached the 2002 U.S. Olympic hockey team to a silver medal. He coached Team France at the Nagano games in 1998.