Damon Whitten serves as assistant hockey coach at Michigan Tech and focuses on recruiting and working with the team's penalty kill unit. Hired in 2010 under then-head coach Jamie Russell, Whitten begins his fourth season in Houghton in 2013-14.
Whitten was a big factor in the Huskies' defensive success the last two seasons. Tech allowed 1.4 fewer goals per game than the previous two seasons. He has also helped the Tech penalty kill make big strides including a stretch in 2012-13 when it was nearly 90 percent effective.
Prior to arriving at Tech, Whitten served two years as the director of hockey operations at Michigan State where he was in charge of the team’s travel, video and budget.
From 2006-08, he served a two-year stint as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Alaska Anchorage. From 2004-06, Whitten was an assistant coach at Wayne State.
Whitten was a four-year hockey letterwinner at Michigan State from 1997-2001. He recorded 35 goals and 40 assists for 75 points in 166 career games. The Brighton, Mich., native was a two-time nominee for the NCAA Hockey Humanitarian Award and was awarded the Blue Line President’s Award as the Spartans' top senior scholar-athlete at Michigan State.
The holder of a bachelor’s degree in communication and master’s in sports administration from MSU, Whitten earned the Amo Bessone Award (athletic, scholastic and community service) and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten Team selection.
Following his collegiate career, Whitten spent two seasons playing professionally in the East Coast Hockey League. He won a Kelly Cup title with the Greenville Grrrowl in 2001-02.
Whitten and his wife, Angie, have a son, Joseph Michael.
