Herb Brooks was an American ice hockey player and coach who is best known for leading the United States men's ice hockey team to a gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and began his hockey career as a player at the University of Minnesota, where he was a three-time All-American. After college, he played professionally in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League.

Brooks began his coaching career in the 1970s, first as an assistant coach for the University of Minnesota and then as the head coach of the New York Rangers. He then returned to the University of Minnesota, where he led the team to three NCAA championships.

In 1979, Brooks was named the head coach of the U.S. men's ice hockey team for the 1980 Winter Olympics. He assembled a team of amateur and college players, and against all odds, led them to a gold medal victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union. The victory was dubbed the "Miracle on Ice" and is considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

After the Olympics, Brooks continued to coach in the NHL, leading the Minnesota North Stars, the New Jersey Devils, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also coached the French national team and served as a consultant for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Throughout his career, Brooks was known for his innovative coaching techniques and his ability to motivate players. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006. He died in a car accident in 2003.

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