Ruhly guided Lawrence to a 4-20-1 record and a 3-10-1 mark in the conference. The Vikings finished strong, going 3-3 over their last six games.
"I believe it's an honor for our team and what they accomplished," Ruhly said.
"I definitely think we got stronger as the year went on. Starting with such a young club, we had some obstacles to overcome. We were playing our best hockey at the end of the season, and I think we are going to be a lot more competitive next year."
The Vikings capped the season with a strong performance at the MCHA Tournament this past weekend. Lawrence led the conference champion, the University of Minnesota-Crookston, 2-1 in the second period of the semifinals before the Golden Eagles rallied for a 7-3 win. The Vikings then captured third place in the tournament with a 5-3 victory over Northland College.
"I think it's a fantastic honor," Ruhly said. "Guys go through their entire career without winning Coach of the Year. There are a lot of great coaches in our league who deserve the honor and who also made great strides in their programs this season."
Ruhly, a native of Madison and former star at Providence College, is in his second season with the Vikings.