Mike ProvenzanoColorado ice hockey can thank Colorado Springs Coaching legends Gib Funk (CHSAA HOF 1991) and Garry Berry for inspiring Mike Provenzano to become a teacher and coach.
Provenzano cites both his former coaches for planting the seed that would grow into the state’s moist successful ice hockey coach.
Provenzano noted that majoring in science and physical education was a natural lead in to teaching and coaching. Funk was Provenzano’s high school coach, while Berry gave Provenzano his first teaching and coaching job upon graduation from Colorado State in 1967. The coach added a master’s degree in 1985 from Colorado College.
His teams won three state championships at Palmer High (1992, 1993, 1998) during a 30-year reign as hockey coach. Then, his teams won another in 2004 when he coached Cheyenne Mountain High to the championship. He spent nine years with the Indians’ program.
“Coach Pro’s” Palmer teams made 18 consecutive state ice hockey Final Four appearances and were second three times. At CMHS, his teams played in the state tourney nine times.
Provenzano’s teams compiled a 267-159-9 mark at Palmer and 127-41-6 at Cheyenne Mountain for an overall prep coaching record of 394-200-15.
Twenty of the last 21 years as coach, Provenzano’s teams were in the CHSAA Frozen Four. Provenzano was named the Colorado Coach of the Year six times, including 1984, 1987, 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2009.
In addition to his high school coaching, Provenzano was active in non-school ice hockey programs, coaching the Pike Peak Miners (Midget AAA) team from 1994-97 and 2000-02. Those teams won the 1995 and 1996 Colorado Amateur Hockey Titles and his teams made appearances in the USA Hockey National Championships three times.
He was the first president of the Colorado Ice Hockey Coaches Association.
