Delbert Genereau

Who was Delbert Genereau?

Delbert Eugene Genereau was a renowned hockey coach in Minnesota in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Genereau was inducted into the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame posthumously in 2003. With a record of 72-36, his winning percentage of 67% places him in the top 30 winningest coaches of all time, according to United States College Hockey Online.

Born November 19, 1919, Genereau grew up playing hockey in Canada and his native Duluth, Minnesota. From 1958 to 1968, as Head Coach of Duluth Cathedral High School, his dominating teams consistently packed arenas across the state en route to five state championships. Described as a "coaching legend," who encouraged his players to be "good, decent men," he was inducted into the Hilltopper Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

In 1972, Genereau started the hockey program at the College of Saint Scholastica and compiled a 19-5-2 record his first year as Head Coach, while simultaneously serving as Athletic Director. Within 3 years, his team had won its first of two national NAIA championships. Genereau was described as a "role model" who "taught me the value of giving back" by former player Tom Cartier.