CHN Staff Report
(photo: James Evans, UAA)
Alaska-Anchorage has named Eric Rud its new coach. Rud, a Colorado College alum, has been an assistant with St. Cloud State the last two years.
Rud replaces Matt Shasby, who stepped down two weeks ago.
“We are excited to welcome Eric Rud to UAA as the next head coach of Seawolf Hockey,” UAA’s acting athletic director Tanya Pont said. “UAA hockey is truly unique among collegiate programs, with a proud and resilient history, and this hire reflects our strong commitment to the future of Seawolf hockey. Coach Rud’s experience as a Division I coach and program builder, combined with his understanding of what it takes to compete and develop student-athletes, makes him the right choice to lead UAA Hockey into its next chapter.”
Prior to St. Cloud, Rud was an assistant coach at Miami for three years, and was head coach of the St. Cloud State women’s hockey team for five seasons (2014-19). He also was head coach of the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede (2022-24) and the head coach/general manager of the Green Bay Gamblers (2010-11).
Rud served as head coach of the 2008 USA Under-17 team in the Four Nations Cup, the 2009 USA Under-18 team at the Hlinka Cup and the 2022 United States World Junior Challenge team that won a gold medal.
“I’m honored to be selected as the next head hockey coach at UAA and grateful to university leadership and the search committee for the trust they’ve placed in me,” said Rud. “Seawolf hockey has always been identified by grit and hard work. Our goal is to build a team that reflects that identity every day – tough, disciplined and competitive — while developing student-athletes the right way. I’m excited to get to work with the staff and players to honor the history of UAA hockey and build a culture that respects the past, embraces the work and positions the hockey program for a strong and sustainable future.”
Rud, a defenseman, played four seasons at Colorado College, where he was a two-time team captain and two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, he went on to play professional hockey from 1997 to 2002. His professional career included time as a player-assistant coach with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades and the WCHL’s Idaho Steelheads.
Rud began his coaching career as an assistant with the USHL’s Cedar Rapids Roughriders from 2002 to 2004 and later returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach at Colorado College during the 2004-05 season.
“I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to lead our group into the next chapter of UAA hockey,” Rud said. “I can’t wait to dig in with our current team and also share the endless opportunities that exist within our program with the next generation of future Seawolves.”