Alaska-Anchorage has reopened its search for the Seawolves’ next head coach after originally suspending it on May 2.
A supplementary search committee consisting of community members, UAA coaching and hockey alumni and UAA leadership has been added, while the criteria used to screen applicants has been revised to allow candidates with coaching experience equal to that of collegiate-level to apply for the position.
“We believe this new approach will address concerns raised by the hockey community and allow the integrity of the original search process to stand,” said Bill Spindle, UAA vice chancellor for administrative services Bill Spindle in a statement.
The supplementary search committee is comprised of John Stalvey, Ph.D., dean of UAA’s College of Arts and Sciences, longtime Alaska-Anchorage hockey supporter Jerry Dewhurst, first-ever UAA head coach Kelvin “Brush” Christiansen, UAA Hockey Alumni Association president and former Seawolves’ defenseman Mark Filipenko and former players Mike Scott and Gregg Zaporzan.
The four finalists identified by the original search committee – Air Force associate head coach Mike Corbett, Michigan Tech assistant coach Damon Whitten, Augsburg head coach Chris Brown and Utica head coach Gary Heenan – will remain in the finalist pool and any additional finalists will be invited to campus for interviews and public forums in early June.
Applications will be accepted until May 17 and the school aims to have the new coach in place by June 15.
