PLYMOUTH, Mich. — (RPI Photo) – Seth Appert, with more than two decades of coaching experience, has been named a head coach of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program it was announced today by USA Hockey. Appert is currently serving as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men’s National Team at the 2017 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
In addition, USA Hockey announced the promotion of Nick Fohr to associate coach at the NTDP and also announced the hiring of Greg Moore as assistant coach at the NTDP.
ABOUT APPERT
Appert, who will serve as the head coach of the U.S. National Under-18 Team at the NTDP in 2017-18, spent the previous 11 seasons as the head coach of the Rensselaer men’s hockey team where he led the Engineers to the 2011 NCAA Tournament and the team’s highest ECAC finish in more than 20 years in 2012-13 when RPI finished second in the league.
“We’re excited to have Seth join the NTDP,” said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “He brings a lot of passion and knowledge to the table and is someone we really feel like will be a terrific coach for the young players that are part of the NTDP and also a great mentor for our intern coaches.”
In addition to currently being on the coaching staff for the U.S. Men’s National Team, Appert also served as an assistant coach for the 2017 U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team that won the gold medal at the recently completed 2017 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship.
“Seth’s experience level, connectivity in the sport and commitment to development are characteristics that were important to us,” said Scott Monaghan, senior director of operations for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. “We look forward to welcoming him and his family to Plymouth.”
A former president of the American Hockey Coaches Association, Appert spent the nine seasons prior to taking over the head coaching reigns at RPI as an assistant coach at the University of Denver where he helped lead the Pioneers to a pair of NCAA titles, three WCHA playoff championships and two WCHA regular-season titles.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity,” said Appert. “and I look forward to having a chance to work with the staff currently in place to help strengthen hockey in our country through our efforts at the National Team Development Program and across USA Hockey. I’m excited to meet and get to know our young men upon return from the world championship.”
In his 20 years in the collegiate coaching ranks, Appert has recruited and helped develop 13 All-Americans, 37 all-league selections, four Players of the Year, four Hobey Baker Finalists and 23 players who have gone on to play in the NHL.
His other USA Hockey coaching experience includes two stints as head coach (2008, 2011) and one as assistant coach (2007) of the U.S. National Under-18 Select Team that competed in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup.
A collegiate netminder, Appert was a four-year letterwinner at Ferris State University from 1992-96. He owns a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Ferris State and earned his master’s degree in management from the University of Denver in 1999.
Appert and his wife Jill have two daughters, Addi and Campbell.
ABOUT FOHR
Fohr, who will coach the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team in 2017-18 along with Appert, recently completed his sixth season with the NTDP as an assistant coach. He has served as an assistant coach for Team USA in three International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Men’s World Championships, helping the U.S. collect gold medals in 2015 and 2017 and a silver medal in 2013. During his tenure with the NTDP, he has served on the bench for one first-place finish (2014) and one second-place showing (2012) at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
ABOUT MOORE
Moore, who recently completed a two-year stint as an intern assistant coach with the NTDP, will serve as an assistant coach with the U.S. National Under-17 Team at the NTDP in 2017-18.Moore joined the NTDP as an intern assistant coach in 2015-16 after a 10-year professional hockey career that included stops in the NHL, AHL and DEL, Germany’s top professional league. Moore played at the NTDP from 2000-02 and went on to a four-year collegiate playing career at the University of Maine.
NOTES: USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program is housed at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. The NTDP, which was founded by USA Hockey in 1996, began operations in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and remained there until the summer of 2015 … Seth Appert is the 13th head coach in the history of the NTDP, joining Danton Cole (2010-2017), Greg Cronin (1997-98), Mike Eaves (2000-02), Don Granato (2011-16), John Hynes (2003-09), Jeff Jackson (1997-2000), Kurt Kleinendorst (2009-10), Bob Mancini (1997-2000), Moe Mantha (2000-03), David Quinn (2002-04) Ron Rolston (2004-11), and John Wroblewski (2016-present) … John Wroblewski will serve as head coach of the NTDP’s U.S. National Under-17 Team in 2017-18.
