Pat Ferschweiler’s is serving as an assistant coach of the U.S. National Junior Team for the first time in 2023.
Ferschweiler has been part of coaching staffs for U.S. teams on the international stage three previous times, including as the head coach of the 2019 U.S. Under-18 Select Team that played at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2017 U.S. Under-17 Select Team that won the 2017 Five Nations Tournament, and as an assistant coach for the 2018 U.S. squad that competed at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
He is in his second year as the head men’s ice hockey coach at Western Michigan University, where he led the Broncos to a 26-12-2 record and an NCAA East Regional Final appearance last season, after having spent one season as the program’s associate head coach (2020-21).
Ferschweiler previously spent four seasons (2015-19) as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings after one year as an assistant coach with Detroit’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. Additionally, he served as the head coach and general manager for the Midwest Elite Hockey League's Russell Stover Under-18 team for six years (2004-10). The club won numerous regional championships under Ferschweiler's reign, who was simultaneously serving as the director of hockey for the Kansas City Stars youth organization (2005-09).
A 1993 graduate of Western Michigan University, Ferschweiler played three seasons in Kalamazoo, recording 30 goals and 65 assists for 95 points in 116 games. He went on to an eight-year professional playing career, including stops in the ECHL and IHL, scoring 46 goals and adding 113 assists for 159 points in 355 contests.