| Chris Prewitt | |
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Coach Prewitt joined Illinois State the summer before our 21-22 season. Since joining the Birds, he has led the MD1 team to a 85-47-6 record. They have advanced to two MCH Lindsay Cup Championship games and achieved the organizations first and second MD1 National Championship birth. Coach Prewitt joined the Redbirds after coaching the Bloomington Thunder 18U team to a 146 W – 63 L – 18 T record over the course of 5 season. They captures four NIHL championships and four final eight in state round robins births. He served as Hockey Director for the Bloomington Thunder Organization from 2018-2021. Before coaching for the Bloomington Thunder he served as Varsity Head Coach and Coaching Director for the Bloomington Sharks High School program where he helped lead to three league Championships.
Coach Prewitt grew up in Bloomington, IL playing inline and ice hockey locally. He played for the Peoria Jr. Riverman through his youth years at the CSDHL level before joining the Peoria Mustangs for three seasons. He is happily married with 5 amazing kids supporting him through his journey! |
| Head Coach, ISU D1 | |
| Email: Christopher.A.Prewitt@gmail.com |
| Kevin Tompkins | |
| Coach Tompkins came to Illinois State University in 2024-2025 as Head Coach of ’s Division II hockey program. With over 18 years of coaching experience, he has led teams from the Mite level through 18U and also served as Director of Hockey, shaping player development and program growth at multiple levels.
Before coaching, Tompkins built an accomplished playing career. He competed at the AAA level and in Tier I junior hockey in Canada, where he served as captain of the Markham Waxers. His strong leadership and work ethic earned him opportunities with the Peoria Rivermen and a few other teams. Driven by a passion to give back to the game, Coach Tompkins emphasizes grit, passion, and player development. He believes in instilling a love for the sport in athletes of all ages while building a strong culture both on and off the ice. Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Coach Tompkins came to Illinois through his time with the Peoria Rivermen and later made it home. He and his wife, Stacey, are raising three boys; Tanner, Skyler, and Ryker. They all share his enthusiasm for the game and support his commitment to building the ISU program. |
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| Head Coach, ISU D2 | |
| Email: kevintompkins1213@gmail.com |
| Michael Hernbrott | |
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Michael is a member of two Hockey Hall of Fames—the Amateur Hockey of Illinois Hall of Fame and the Illinois State Hockey Hall of Fame. Michael grew up playing hockey in Oak Park, Illinois, for the Oak Park Eagles Travel program and played in High School for Oak Park-River Forest, where he was the leading scorer both his Junior and Senior seasons. After High School, Michael joined the US Marines and played on the All-Marine Hockey team, where he was Assistant Captain and leading scorer for three seasons.
After returning home from the service, he began coaching youth hockey in Oak Park as well as Inline Hockey in Berwyn, Illinois.
Over the years, Michael has coached almost every age and skill level of youth hockey. Organizations include the Sabres, Maulers (Vipers), and the Bloomington Thunder.
Michael began his career at Illinois State as Assistant Coach for the 2013-2014 D2 team that qualified for and played in the National Tournament. In 2014-2015 Michael took over the role as Head Coach of the D3 team, improving the team’s personnel and record to qualify for D2 status in 2015-2016. Since that time, the D2 team has made the Mid America Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Gold playoffs 5 out of 6 years with Michael as its coach. His 2021-22 team was a Regional qualifier.
In 2023, Michael chose to return to rebuild the ISU D3 program as had been done a decade earlier. By year two, the team had returned to the MACHA conference playoffs once again and have set their goals even higher for the 2025-26 season.
Above and beyond coaching, Michael serves as a scout and advisor to the program. He is also the Bloomington Ice Center Manager and has returned to coaching with the Bloomington Thunder at the 8U level.
Michael lives in Bloomington and has been married to Lisa for thirty-seven years, has two children, and four grandchildren.
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| Head Coach, ISU D3 | |
| Email: mhernbrott@gmail.com |