General | 2/11/2025 3:52:54 PM
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders head coach Mark Carlson made USHL history on Feb. 15, 2025 by breaking the league record for most regular-season games coached. Carlson coached his 1,477th regular-season game vs. Waterloo, breaking the previous record held by P.K. O’Handley (1,476).
Carlson, the only head coach in RoughRiders history, has built one of the most successful coaching careers in USHL history:
- 767 career regular-season wins, second all-time behind O’Handley’s 778. With 21 games remaining, Carlson has a chance at surpassing that record this season.
- One of two coaches in USHL history to reach 700 regular-season wins.
- Championships and Awards:
- Clark Cup Champion (2005)
- Anderson Cup Champion (2005, 2011, 2016)
- USHL Coach of the Year (2005, 2011, 2016)
"Mark is a core piece of the USHL fabric and we are proud to celebrate his worthy achievement," USHL President & Commissioner Glenn Hefferan said. "He has steered the RoughRiders to 18 winning seasons, demontrating an unwavering passion and commitment to our league, players and the community of Cedar Rapids."
A native of Lawrenceville, N.J., Carlson played at UMass-Lowell (1990-93) and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 11th round of the 1987 NHL Draft (215th overall). Before joining the RoughRiders, he coached at UMass-Lowell (1995-96) and Northeastern University (1996-99).
About the USHL
The United States Hockey League and its 16 member clubs are committed to being the leading 16–20-year-old junior hockey league in the world. More than half of Division I men’s hockey roster spots are held by USHL alumni and more than 195 alumni were listed on NHL rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season.
The league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to- game ratio and a schedule with 92% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel), Cole Caufield (NTDP), Adam Fantilli (Chicago Steel) and Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede).
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