Strand Wins Prestigious LG Life’s Good Coaches Award

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. – LG Electronics USA, an official NCAA corporate partner, announced the recipients of its second annual LG Life’s Good Coaches Award. The recipients were nominated by student-athletes who recognized NCAA coaches for creating supportive team environments and fostering mental health awareness.

Luke Strand, head men’s ice hockey coach at Minnesota State University and Samantha “Sam” Erger, head women’s volleyball coach at Southern Methodist University (SMU) were honored in a segment, which aired during halftime of Duke-Arkansas men’s college basketball game at the 2025 CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic on Thursday, November 27. The LG Life’s Good Coaches Award recognizes NCAA collegiate coaches who help break down the stigma around mental health issues, empower student-athletes through personal growth and foster environments that support mental well-being. For many student-athletes, a coach is the first person they confide in, and this award celebrates coaches who play a pivotal role in fostering a safe and positive environment.

“At LG, we believe in the profound ability of sports to unite people and inspire hope,” said Jeannie Lee, director of corporate marketing at LG US. “This is an unprecedented time at the intersection of mental health and sports. The LG Life’s Good Coaches Award reflects that by honoring coaches and organizations who are using their platforms not just to compete, but to serve and to lead with purpose. This initiative continues to be a cornerstone of our commitment to student-athlete mental health, and we are proud to celebrate coaches who provide student-athletes with supportive spaces that cultivate open dialogue around mental health challenges.”

NCAA student-athletes were invited to nominate coaches which were then reviewed by a panel including representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the 2024 LG Coaches Award Recipients. This year’s program had more than 130 nominations from 18 unique sports across all three NCAA divisions.

“Student-athletes do their best when they are part of a culture that supports their mental health and gives them space to grow as people,” said Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., CEO of NAMI: The National Alliance on Mental Illness. “Coach Strand and Coach Erger model the kind of care and intention that helps young people feel understood and supported, creating teams where trust, compassion, and open conversation are part of everyday life. NAMI appreciates LG for celebrating coaches who help reduce stigma and make mental health a priority for the young people they serve.”

“Coaches play an important role in creating team environments that support student-athlete mental health and promote help-seeking behavior,” said Dr. Deena Casiero, NCAA chief medical officer. “The NCAA Sport Science Institute is grateful to LG for efforts to recognize and celebrate coaches who are doing the important work of promoting student-athlete mental health and well-being.”

Both coaches will be honored during in-game recognitions at their respective universities:

• Minnesota State will host a special pregame ceremony honoring Coach Strand during the home game against Ferris State University on Friday, December 5 at 7:07 pm CT.
• SMU Mustangs will honor Coach Erger during the men’s baseball game vs. Virginia Tech Hokies on Jan. 14, 2026.

In addition to the award and recognition for Strand and Erger, LG has pledged to donate cash and products to support their on-campus initiatives at their respective universities.

About Luke Strand
Luke Strand was named Minnesota State’s head coach on April 10, 2023. In his three years on the Maverick bench Minnesota State has played to a 55-26-10 record, winning both the historic MacNaughton Cup as CCHA regular season champions and the Mason Cup as the league’s postseason champion in 2025. Last year, the Mavericks advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time under Strand, falling to the eventual national champions, Western Michigan, 2-1 in double overtime. Strand was named the CCHA’s Coach of the Year last season as was a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award for National Coach of the Year.