The contract of head men’s hockey coach Seth Appert has been extended for two years by Rensselaer. Appert’s agreement runs through the 2011-12 season.
“In just one year Seth has become an important member of the Rensselaer community with a very positive influence across the campus,” said president Shirley Ann Jackson in making the announcement Monday. “He has shown a willingness to meet challenges head on and a determination to succeed. These are attributes that will continue to shape outstanding young men, while generating a great deal of excitement and increasing levels of success on the ice.”
“Seth’s ambition and enthusiasm fit perfectly for Rensselaer,” said vice president of student life Dr. Eddie Ade Knowles. “When looking at the outstanding young men he recruits, as well as the eagerness to play the best teams in the country, there is no doubt we will again become one of the nation’s elite programs. I look forward to working with him for many years to come.”
“I am very thankful to President Jackson and Dr. Knowles for their continued support of our program and the vision and leadership they provide for our university,” said Appert. “We have set a strong foundation for future success and we will continue to move this program forward with the support from Kevin Beattie, the RPI campus community and our terrific fans in the Capital Region. This is our home and my wife and I are excited about raising our kids here while bringing RPI Hockey back to national prominence.”
Highlights of Appert’s first season included leading his team to victory in the inaugural Governor’s Cup Championship — Rensselaer’s first tournament title of any kind since 1998 — and garnering points against five nationally-ranked opponents. Among those was the team’s first win of the season, which came at the Denver — Appert’s previous employer, and a team ranked 11th at the time in the USCHO.com/CSTV poll.
Individually, senior defenseman Jake Luthi earned All-League honors while classmate Kirk MacDonald, a forward, garnered the USCHO.com’s Unsung Hero Award, as well as many national community service honors. In addition there were seven student-athletes who set career highs for points in a single season.
The 2007-08 Engineers return 17 players from that team, which posted a 10-18-8 record, including ten forwards, four defensemen and three goaltenders. Nine newcomers are expected.
In addition to his position at RPI, Appert will also serve as an assistant coach for the 2007 U.S. Under-18 Select Team that will compete in the upcoming Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament (August 14-18) in Slovakia and Czech Republic.
Prior to joining Rensselaer, Appert, the 12th head men’s hockey coach in the program’s history, spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at Denver, where he was responsible for recruiting, on-ice coaching, video breakdown and game analysis work. He also played a big role in the development of the Pioneers’ goaltenders.
A four-year college hockey letterwinner as a goaltender at Ferris State from 1992-96, Appert and his wife, Jill, have two daughters, Addison, who is three, and Campbell, who was born in June.
