Four finalists announced for head hockey coach

Submitted by Jamie Schanback
Phone: (907) 474-6807
05/11/07

The seven-member search committee for the University of Alaska Fairbanks men’s ice hockey head coaching position announced the four finalists who will participate in on-campus interviews over the next two weeks to fill the vacancy left by former head coach Tavis MacMillan.

"We are looking for a coach who can regularly take the program to the NCAA tournament while maintaining the team’s impressive academic record,"? said UAF’s director of athletics Forrest Karr.

The finalists include: Eric Rud of St. Cloud, Minn.; Doc DelCastillo of Omaha, Neb.; Kevin Patrick of Madison, Wis.; and Wade Klippenstein of Fairbanks, Alaska.

All four finalists spent last season serving as assistant coaches for NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey programs.

Rud completed his third consecutive season as an assistant coach at St. Cloud State University of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. DelCastillo finished his seventh year as a member of the coaching staff at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, the Nanooks CCHA travel partner. Patrick has been a hockey mentor for the University of Wisconsin, also of the WCHA, for three seasons.

The only local candidate still in the running, Klippenstein has spent the past three seasons as a Nanook assistant.

"The four finalists have everything the committee is searching for, including experience, integrity and passion,"? Karr said. "The final stage will include input from various constituencies to determine the best fit for the greater Fairbanks community."?

Each finalist will have an interview conducted on campus by the search committee. Finalists will also have the opportunity to meet with the Intercollegiate Athletics Council, University administrators, athletic department staff and coaches, community members and current players.

Following the on campus interviews the position will be offered to one of the candidates.