Alabama-Huntsville announced Wednesday that Kurt Kleinendorst has stepped down as the Chargers’ head coach after just one season behind the bench.
Kleinendorst guided the Chargers through the team’s final season as a Division I independent before joining the revamped WCHA in 2013-14.
“Kurt Kleinendorst has steadied the rough waters during our transition into the WCHA and we will always be grateful to him for that,” said UAH director of athletics Dr. E.J. Brophy in a statement. “He has signed nine quality recruits for next fall and he has done a fantastic job with our program. Now that we have our program on firm footing, we will start the process of identifying the coach who will lead our hockey program into the WCHA.”
Kleinendorst came to Huntsville with nine years’ experience as an assistant coach and scout for the New Jersey Devils and most recently, a championship-winning stint with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League. He also coached with the U.S. National Team Development Program.
“This has been a great experience for me – my first in collegiate sports,” Kleinendorst added. “I’ve grown to really respect the college game. This is just about me being true to myself and my passion is for pro hockey.
“I’m going to miss the guys, but I know the program is in a great place.”
UAH went 3-21-1 during the 2012-13 season.
