If he weren't teaching the game of hockey to a group of college kids, MSU head coach Rick Comley isn't sure what he'd be doing with his life.

It might be because he doesn't know what else to do. But he still loves the job he's been committed to for the past 30-plus years.

"It's a passion with me, something I love doing," Comley said. "I've never done anything else. I've never, other than summer jobs, had a job that wasn't coaching. I'm not a hobby guy."

Comley will be behind the bench for the first time in the NCAA Tournament as a Spartan when MSU takes on Minnesota-Duluth at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Grand Rapids. He took over the head coaching position two years ago for current MSU athletics director Ron Mason.

Comley is seventh all-time in the career wins list among college coaches and has led his two former teams to numerous postseason trips, but he's still looking forward to the tourney even after all these years.

"I'm happy for the kids that a lot of hard work has paid off over the last two years," he said. "It's a bit more fun the week prior to it because it's a feeling of accomplishment - you're only one of 16 teams left in the country."

Sophomore forward David Booth wants this first postseason win not only for himself, but for his coach as well.

"We want to give back to him what he's given to us - the opportunity to play and teach us the game better," Booth said.

Before coming to East Lansing, Comley basically built the hockey program at Northern Michigan from the bottom up as the Wildcats' first head coach. In his 26-year tenure there, he led the 1990-91 team to a WCHA regular-season title, the playoff championship and the national title.

It's safe to say a part of Comley had trouble at first letting go of his emotions tied to what he created at Northern Michigan. Though he said it wasn't hard to leave the program, he is having troubles cutting his emotional ties there.

"Actually, it was time for me to leave," he said. "Not because I wanted to leave the hockey program, but sometimes when you're at a place for a long time, a fresh start is good for everybody."

Comley said one of the most difficult aspects of facing his former team as Spartans head coach is the nostalgia he feels when he sees the gold and green Wildcats logo.

"It's the jersey," Comley said. "There was nothing there before I got there. I built the rink; I did everything. It's special, and I don't ever want to cut that out of my past. At the same time, it's taken me a couple of years, really, for me to make the break complete."

Comley accepted the Spartans head coaching job because of the visibility that MSU offers and the tradition of Spartans hockey from years past.

"The potential I thought was unbelievable," he said. "I come from Lake Superior (1973-76) and Northern, where you're playing a lot of battles - location was a negative, travel was almost impossible.

"Coming here, this was one of the grand programs in the country, always one of the top 10 in the ability to recruit good kids that everybody else is trying to get; with the budget, you're not trying to fight for every day and (it being) cut three, four times a year. So, there are many pluses here."

But in that, there are downsides as well, which Comley has needed to adjust to. One of which is taking over a program that has as much history as MSU.

"The scrutiny is unbelievable," he said. "Up north, you would play the weekend, you'd have your media after the game Saturday, and you wouldn't see anybody again until after next Friday.

"Here, you're always answering, you're always defending, always explaining, but it's good. I like it. I always like pressure to be successful because I put more of that on myself than anybody else ever could do."

What Comley and his current players have done is a little give-and-take. The players had to get used to a new coach a year ago and Comley had to get to know the strengths and weaknesses of players he didn't recruit, players that had been accustomed to a certain style of play before.

"It's been a real learning experience for me from a lot of different standpoints - learning to coach in this environment with everything that goes around here compared to a smaller program," Comley said. "I've had to learn to coach players I didn't recruit - adjust how I might want to play to how you have to play.

"There's been a lot of rewarding feelings too, getting better each of the last two years."

Comley said receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament brings credibility to himself and his players.

"Now, I have this feeling, whether it's accurate or not, that you're kind of over the hump," Comley said. "The experience we gain from this year will be tremendous for next year with a mature team, a well-balanced team, as far as classes go. A solid senior class - what every coach is looking for."

Though he's content with the accomplishments of this season, Comley knows there's more potential, and he's not afraid to admit to that.

"I'm satisfied with a lot; I just know there's a ways to go," Comley said. "We've underachieved a little bit, and I don't think it's unfair to say that."

Booth said what he noticed most about Comley is how he doesn't get overly emotional after a loss.

"After a loss, he usually doesn't say much," Booth said. "He doesn't like to have his emotions carry right after a loss because he may wake up and watch a tape and may have a different attitude."

Junior captain Jim Slater said he sees a bit of himself in his coach.

"He's laid-back and a really competitive guy that wants to win every game," Slater said. "I see that in myself, and that's why we get along."

Comley said he can see himself coaching for as long as his health holds up. He doesn't think his passion of hockey will fizzle out, but said that if it happens, he'll know it.

"Success determines longevity," Comley said. "So far, my health is good. As long as my health is good, as long as I'm successful - I certainly don't want it to be one or two years.

"I can't imagine not doing anything. I don't have any immediate short-term goals."

Except, of course, the game on Saturday.