MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Herb Brooks, the Olympic hockey coach who directed the USA in its 1980 victory over the Soviet Union, was killed Monday in a single-car accident.
Brooks, 66, was driving alone when his vehicle rolled over and he was ejected on Interstate 35 near Forest Lake, according to a statement from the Pittsburgh Penguins. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.
Brooks is best known for coaching a group of American college players to an upset of the powerful Soviet Union en route to a gold medal in the 1980 Olympics at Lake Placid, N.Y.
The 4-3 semifinal victory is considered one of the greatest hockey moments of the century. The Americans beat Finland in the gold medal game.
Brooks returned to the Olympics in 2002, coaching the American NHL players to a silver medal.
Born in St. Paul, Minn., Brooks coached the University of Minnesota to three NCAA titles.
