USHL NEWS: Mark Carlson Breaks All-Time Wins Record
Published on October 3, 2025 under United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders head coach Mark Carlson set the United States Hockey League (USHL) record for all-time, regular-season wins by a coach with 779 victories in his 1,500th game. The RoughRiders defeated the Lincoln Stars 3-2 on Friday at ImOn Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Through 26 seasons, Carlson has guided the RoughRiders to a 779-579-142 (W-L-T/OTL/SOL) record, winning the Anderson Cup in 2005, 2011, and 2016, and capturing the Clark Cup in 2005.
Currently the head coach, general manager, and team president for Cedar Rapids, Carlson has stood behind the bench for more games than any coach in the league and served as the RoughRiders' sole bench boss since the team's inaugural season in 1999-2000. He has helped develop more than 500 NCAA Division I college hockey players, nearly 40 NHL alumni, three Hobey Baker winners (Andy Miele, Adam Gaudette, Scott Perunovich), and two Stanley Cup champions (Ross Colton, Alec Martinez).
"(The USHL) has always been a tremendous league. It's gotten better year by year. We talk a lot about how good it is today, and sometimes I respectfully like to say that it's been good for a long, long time," said Carlson. "When you look at various teams from way back when from all the different (teams), there's been a lot of great teams and impactful players and depth and great ownership and leadership for a long, long time, and it's just really special to be a part of."
The record-breaking victory pushes Carlson ahead of P.K. O'Handley, who accrued 778 regular-season wins as a coach for the North Iowa Huskies and Waterloo Black Hawks before stepping down from his post in Waterloo following the 2020-21 season.
"We are proud to celebrate Mark for his tremendous accomplishment," said USHL President & Commissioner Glenn Hefferan. "His unwavering commitment to the USHL, our players, and the RoughRiders' faithful is a core piece to his success, and his ability to advocate for long-term player development has helped our league become a steady pipeline for NCAA and NHL talent."
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).
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