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Chris Lonke
Chris Lonke brings seventeen years of coaching experience to the Minnesota Magicians program. Chris is the Boys Varsity Head Coach for the New Prague Trojans. Prior to New Prague, Lonke served as an assistant coach with the Hamilne Pipers and the previous six seasons (2001-2007) as the head boy's hockey coach at Simley High School.
While at the helm of Simley's program, Lonke's teams compiled an 8-6 post-season record. He led the Section 3A champion Spartans to a runner-up finish in the MSHSL Class A State tournament in 2003. His success that season led to him being named Section 3A Coach of the Year and the John Mariucci Class A Coach of the Year.
Prior to coaching the Spartans, Lonke served as an assistant hockey coach and head scout for Proctor High School during the 1996-1997 season. His team finished third in the MSHSL state tournament that year. During the 1997-1998 season, Lonke was a scout with the Waterloo Blackhawks of the United States Hockey League.
He has spent four seasons as the head coach for the Minnesota Hockey Advanced 16s and 17s teams (2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007). He followed that up by serving as a USA Hockey National Festival coach from 2004-2007.
Lonke understands the value of multi-sport student-athletes, having been one himself. He was a letterman in hockey, golf and baseball at Proctor High School. Additionally, he has spent several years coaching baseball - including with the Eden Prairie American Legion (2000), Eden Prairie High School (1998-2003), the Proctor American Legion (1996) and Proctor High School (1995 and 1996).
Currently, Lonke serves as a board member with the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association as the communications officer. He is also an elementary school physical education teacher in Minneapolis.
Lonke graduated summa cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1997. He received his master's in activities and athletic administration from the University of St. Thomas in 2007.
