Denver has named Tavis MacMillan the first general manager/assistant coach in program history.

MacMillan, 55, just completed his 11th season with Denver in 2025-26 as an assistant coach and helped the Pioneers capture a fourth national championship in that time. In this role, MacMillan will continue to lead DU’s recruiting efforts in North America and abroad while remaining an integral part of the program’s on-ice instruction, player development and coaching on game days.

“Since joining Denver in 2015, Tavis has helped lead Pioneer hockey into one of the true golden ages in our program’s illustrious history,” said DU head coach David Carle. “His eye for talent and ability to build relationships have been instrumental to our sustained success. As the landscape of college hockey continues to evolve, this title reflects the role he already plays in building our roster, supporting our players and positioning our program to compete for championships every year—the Denver standard we are committed to continuing.”

First hired as an assistant coach under then-head coach Jim Montgomery on May 27, 2015, MacMillan has helped the Pioneers to three NCHC Frozen Faceoff championships (2018, 2024, 2026), three Penrose Cups as NCHC regular-season champions (2017, 2022, 2023), nine NCAA Tournament berths, seven Frozen Four appearances and national titles in 2017, 2022, 2024 and 2026.

The Milk River, Alberta, native joined Denver after spending eight seasons as an amateur scout for the NHL Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise and 10 years as a coach at his alma mater at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. MacMillan was an assistant coach for seven seasons with the Nanooks from 1996-2003 before serving as the head coach for three seasons from 2004-2007, posting a 46-54-15 record. He played for UAF from 1990-1994 and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in business administration marketing in 1995.

Denver roots go deep in MacMillan’s family, as his uncle John played for the Pioneers from 1956-1960, captaining the squad in his final season and being a part of DU’s first two national titles in 1958 and 1960. Overall, the MacMillan family has been a part of six of the Pioneers’ 11 NCAA-record national championships. Additionally, two of Tavis’ three daughters also graduated from Denver. 

Photo/Jim Rosvold

— Denver Athletics Staff

(June 24, 2026)