For 35 years, Alan Murdoch has been roaming the bench for the ISU men’s hockey club.

Friday night, he made history.

The minutes ticked down, and fans chanted “Murdoch” as he won his 800th game as head coach. It was an emotional night for Murdoch and his players, current and former. After the game, he was honored with a large banner which read “800 Wins.”

“It’s been really fun; at the end, it seemed like all 800 are flashing in front of me right now. It’s been a long haul,” he said.

Murdoch said he’s proud to be a part of the ISU hockey program.

“We have a lot of good friends out there, and this victory is for the 35 years of alums that I’ve coached, as well as this team,” Murdoch said. “This wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of all the players I’ve had.”

Members of the opposing Weber State team all showed their respect and shook Murdoch’s hand after the game.

“Some of them looked at me with a weird look, probably because I was shaking their hands so hard,” he said. “I didn’t want them to think I was a soft old coach.”

Murdoch came to Iowa State in 1969 and was one of the club’s original players.

As an unpaid volunteer, he took over as coach in 1971. The team played in Hilton Coliseum for 10 years, beginning in 1971. During those 10 years, Murdoch started a variety of ice programs for ISU students, including intramural hockey, curling and broomball — which is now the largest program of its kind in the country.

By 1979, the cost of playing at Hilton Coliseum was too high for a team not associated with the athletic department. Murdoch was mainly responsible for getting Ames to construct the Cyclone Area Community Center in 1979.

In 2001, there was a need for a new hockey arena; Murdoch led the campaign and was responsible for raising more than 80 percent of the funds to build the Ames/ISU Ice Arena, which has been the home of the Cyclones since.

In 1992, Murdoch’s Cyclones won the American Collegiate Hockey Association Championship. His teams have made the ACHA tournament all 14 years it has existed.

Assistant coach Andrew Murdoch, who also played for Iowa State, was caught up in the moment Saturday. He played for his father for four years before joining him on the bench. He was on the ice for his dad’s 700th win.

Being on the bench coaching with his dad for the 800th win was a great honor, he said.

“I got chills the last few minutes; it’s pretty amazing,” Andrew said. “I’ve always looked up to him, and I just think this is really impressive. I just hope I can coach 800 games, let alone win 800.”

Andrew said he could tell the players wanted to win this one for Alan.

Goalie Trent Baker, who stopped 48 of the 49 shots he faced, said he was honored to be in net for the win.

“It feels pretty good. It’s really rewarding to help coach reach that milestone,” Baker said. “He is there for us and helps us more than people know.”

This sentiment was shared by Scott Hagen, who scored the game-winning goal.

“It’s good to help coach out in getting his 800th win,” Hagen said. “We are all willing to do what we can to help coach out.”

Alan said 800 was a big accomplishment.

He said he doesn’t know how much longer he will coach, but that he’ll coach every game as hard as he coached his first.

“I’ll keep coaching as long as I’m having fun,” he said. “And right now, I’m having fun.”