Ron Mason, Michigan state hockey former coach died at the age of 76 leaving the team and his family mourning.
Reports say that he passed away Monday morning with reasons yet to be revealed. However, Tom Newton, Mason's assistant coach confirmed that he breathed his last breath Sunday night surrounded by his families and some of his friends.
Mason was named as the winningest coach in college hockey history making his 924th victory in 2002. His record was however broken in 2012 by Jery York, a Boston college coach.
Originally from Blyth, Ontario, Mason's coaching career began at Bowling Green with 17 CCHA tournament titles and regular season and a total of 19 appearances at the NCAA tournament.
Several NFL talented players came from his training. Some of them were Kip Miller, Ryan Miller, Hobey Baker Award winners, All- Americans and NHL future players.
He completed 36 years of coaching life; 23 of them were at the NCAA tournament. Mason worked as Michigan State's coach from 1979 to 2002 which included Michigan's 1986 NCAA national championship, as reported by Michigan Live.
From 2002 to 2007, he gave up coaching to serve as Michigan's athletic director. There he went overseeing Spartan Stadium tower, Skandalaris Football Center, and Berkowitz Basketball Complex.
Rick Comley, replaced him as Spartan's coach and led the team from 2002. In 2007, Michigan State won another national title.
"Coach Mason defined what it means to be a Spartan," said President Lou Anna K. Simon, Michigan State President,according to The Business Insider.
Mason's contribution to sports industry is now being recognized in Lake Superior State, U.S. Hockey, Michigan State, Michigan Sports and St. Lawrence featuring him in their Halls of Fame.
Ron Mason was born at Seaforth, Ontario on January 14, 1940. In 1964, he received his bachelor's degree from St. Lawrence. One year later he received his master's degree from Pittsburgh and was finally awarded an honorary doctorate in 2001 from Michigan State.
