Lou Cotroneo stands as an enduring figure in the annals of St. Paul's hockey lore, his name synonymous with excellence and dedication. From his humble beginnings as a player, coach, and referee in the hallowed state high school tournament to his illustrious coaching career at St. Paul Johnson High School, Cotroneo consistently exemplified the essence of the sport.

With a coaching record of 199-59-8, he led his teams with wisdom and passion, instilling in them the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, and resilience. His coaching and mentorship of legendary figures like Herb Brooks and his induction into the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame underscore his profound impact on the game. Beyond the accolades, Cotroneo's commitment to his community was unwavering. As a liaison to the Mayor’s Office and City Council, he forged a strong bond between hockey and St. Paul, ensuring the sport's continued prominence in the city's cultural fabric. His influence extended far beyond the ice, shaping the lives of countless players and leaving an indelible mark on the community he served with passion and dedication.

As a vital link to St. Paul’s and Minnesota’s hockey history, Cotroneo's legacy continues to inspire generations of players, coaches, and enthusiasts. His name serves as a beacon of excellence, reminding us all of the values that define the essence of the game. Though Lou Cotroneo has passed, his impact on Minnesota's hockey heritage is not merely measured in wins and losses but in the lives he touched and the enduring legacy he left behind.

Louie’s Legacy Exhibit.

Coach Cotroneo had a life-long dedication to his players. For this reason, we are advancing plans for a Louie’s Legacy Exhibit for display at:

Xcel Center. A targeted 2025 launch at Xcel Center, in collaboration with the Minnesota Wild.
JHS Hall of Fame. A permanent home in the Johnson High School (JHS) Hall of Fame in collaboration with the JHS Athletic Department.

Our planned Exhibit will include the following commissioned original artworks:

Bronze Plaque. In collaboration with Brodin Studios - www.brodinstudios.com.
Original Oil Painting. In collaboration with artist Terrence Fogarty - Terrencefogarty.com.

Fundraising.

Our short-term goal is to raise $25K to cover budgeted Exhibit expenses for the envisioned art pieces. Our longer-term goal is to raise an additional $10 to 15K on behalf of Johnson High School’s Hall of Fame, to fund a TouchWall video and photo display monitor for the permanent home of our Louie’s Legacy Exhibit, similar to this prototype: https://blaine.touchpros.com/Home9.aspx.

Our Louie's Legacy Steering Committee is managing the Louie Legacy Exhibit in accordance with the following guiding principles:

The project is a volunteer labor of love, respect, and honor.
Our most creative design efforts are being applied to make our Louie’s Legacy Exhibit all that it can be.
The Exhibit imparts a unique opportunity to memorialize Louie’s accomplishments, and family legacy.
The Cotroneo family supports our Exhibit plan, however no family member is involved in project fundraising.
The collective commitment of all project volunteers is to ensure the Exhibit is beautiful, respectful, audience-engaging, of the highest design quality, and will make the family proud.
The Exhibit will be designed to optimize visitor traffic and engagement.

All Louie’s Legacy donations received through this site will receive 501c3 tax benefit, in collaboration with the Herb Brooks Foundation, which has generously provided 501c3 hosting services to our donors.

In an overwhelming demonstration of project support, Louie’s Legacy donations have been received from the following Donors, for which we are immensely grateful:

Jim Anderson
Philip Anderson
Dale Carmichael
Scott Ebersole
Scott Frantzen
Robert Giannini
Tom and Nancy Jo Cotroneo Good
Glenn Goski
John and Tom Henk
John Holm
John Horton
Greg Hughes
Johnson Governors Hockey
Bill Nyquist
Gerald O’Brien
Robin Ostebo
Bob, Doug, Ron, and Skip Peltier
Mark and Jim Seidl
Rob Shattuck
Steven Younghans
Russell Zarhadka

On behalf of the Cotroneo family and our Louie’s Legacy Steering Committee, thanks to each of you for honoring Coach Louie’s extraordinary hockey legacy.

Finally, selected photo and video images of Louie and his hockey family linked here, are certain to bring a smile: Louie Cotroneo Exhibit Media Library.

For additional information, please contact:

Jim Seidl
Co-Chair
Louie’s Legacy Steering Committee
Email: jim.seidl@legalresearch.com
Home Office: 651.439.7116.
Cell: 612.325.8995.

Louie's Legacy

By The Herb Brooks Foundation

Louie's Legacy

Honoring Coach Cotroneo’s Enduring Impact on Minnesota’s Hockey Heritage