Jeff Sauer, former hockey player and head coach at Colorado College, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 2, at the age of 73.
 
Sauer played hockey for three seasons at CC and graduated in 1965. After spending six seasons as an assistant coach with the Tigers and the University of Wisconsin, he served as head coach at his alma mater from 1971-82. He led Colorado College to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 21 years in 1978. After tying for fifth place during the regular season, the Tigers upset both Minnesota and Denver in the WCHA playoffs. Sauer compiled a record of 166-226-11 in his 11 seasons in Colorado Springs.
 
Following a brief stint as the Director of Athletics at Colorado College, he was the head coach at Wisconsin from '82-2002, leading the Badgers to the NCAA championship in 1983 and 1990.
 
Sauer was in his sixth season as the head coach of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team in 2016-17. Since first taking the helm in 2011, Sauer guided Team USA to the gold medal at the 2012 International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship and the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
 
Sauer, the WCHA Coach of the Year in 1972 and '75, is a member of the Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame (inducted in 2007), the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame (2013), the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame (2014) and the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame (2016).
 
He is survived by his wife, Jamie, and two children, Elizabeth (Frederick) and Chip.