North Dakota announced Wednesday that Brad Berry has been hired as an assistant coach, with his primary responsibilities including coaching and developing the team’s defensemen.
It will be the second stint on the UND coaching staff for Berry, who previously served as the program’s associate head coach from 2004-06 and assistant coach from 2000-04. He was also a defenseman at UND from 1983-86.
Berry returns to Grand Forks from the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, where he spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach.
“I’m very happy to bring Brad aboard as part of our coaching staff,” said North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol in a news release. “He’s an outstanding coach and person and will be a tremendous resource for the development of our players.”
“I’m excited to come back and work with Dave and [assistant coach] Dane [Jackson] and once again be a part of UND athletics,” added Berry.
A second-round draft pick (29th overall) of the Winnipeg Jets in 1983, Berry went on to play 241 NHL games over eight years, including stints with Winnipeg, Minnesota and Dallas. After his playing career ended, Berry was a professional scout with the 1999-00 Dallas Stars team that won the Stanley Cup.
