Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) President Shirley Ann Jackson today announced the selection of Seth Appert as the new head men’s hockey coach. Appert is slated to become the 12th head men’s hockey coach in RPI’s storied hockey history.

“Rensselaer attracts the best of the best and once again we have done so with the hiring of Seth Appert,” President Jackson said. “He is a proven teacher and a leader. His passion for the sport and commitment to education make him a perfect fit for the Institute and we enthusiastically welcome him into the Rensselaer family.”

“Seth is recognized throughout college hockey as a winner on and off the ice,” said Director of Athletics Ken Ralph. “He is a person who consistently brings out the best in his players and we fully expect him to do so at Rensselaer.”

Appert, who succeeds Dan Fridgen, is taking over a program that returns 18 players from the 2005-06 season, including two of the top three scorers and the starting goaltender. In addition, Kirk MacDonald, the team’s top scorer in 2004-05 who was a medical red-shirt this season, is also expected to return.

“I am honored to lead the hockey program at such a prestigious institution as Rensselaer,” said Appert. “I am confident that my goals for the hockey program are consistent with Rensselaer’s institutional vision that stresses the overall excellence of the students and the athletes. I am looking forward to the challenge of developing and maintaining a hockey program that both the institution and the community will be proud to call their own.”

“Seth is a dynamic coach who embraces the Rensselaer tradition of not compromising academic standards,” Vice President of Student Life Eddie Ade Knowles said. “He will contribute to the development of our student-athletes into winners in all aspects of their lives.”

Appert recently concluded his ninth season as an assistant coach at the University of 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 Denver’s goaltenders. A collegiate netminder at Ferris State University, Appert has individually coached one All-American, two All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) honorees, two WCHA Playoff Most Valuable Players, and two Frozen Four Most Outstanding Players. Three of his goaltenders have been draft picks of the National Hockey League, including one Hobey Baker Award finalist. Two of those netminders played in the NHL this season.

Appert has helped Denver sign nationally ranked recruiting classes each of the past seven years. Among those he has coached or recruited are the 2006 Hobey Baker Award winner, eight All-Americans, a WCHA Player of the Year, 22 All-WCHA picks, three WCHA Defensive Players of the Year, two WCHA Student-Athletes of the Year, and 17 NHL draft picks at Denver. The Pioneers have averaged over 23 wins per year in his tenure as an assistant coach and have captured two NCAA National Championships, three WCHA playoff championships, and two WCHA regular-season titles in his years of coaching at Denver.

A four-year letterwinner at Ferris State from 1992-96, Appert and his wife, Jill, have one child, a 1-year old daughter, Addison.

Appert has verbally agreed to, and is in the process of finalizing, a four-year contract with Rensselaer.