St. Norbert has named Andy Brandt its associate head coach.
Brandt arrives at St. Norbert after spending the last 2 1/2 seasons as the head coach and general manager of the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL. He was also an assistant coach with the Gladiators for the 2013-14 season and into the 2014-15 season before being promoted.
“My family and I are excited and honored to have the opportunity to join such a prestigious program,” Brandt said in a statement. “I was thrilled when the opportunity arose to coach at the collegiate level with St. Norbert and I’m eager to jump in and get started.
“The program has been extremely successful for a long time, but what intrigued me the most was the chance to work alongside [SNC head coach] Tim [Coghlin] and to help the program further develop student-athletes. The commitment to both academia and athletics is important and is something I have personally experienced as a collegiate athlete at the University of Wisconsin. I understand firsthand that athletic success cannot be achieved without academic success.
“Plus, when you add in the fact that we get to move our family back home to Wisconsin, the decision was a no-brainer.”
Brandt spent seven seasons as a professional player, mostly with the then-Gwinnett Gladiators. He appeared in a team-record 357 games, scoring 76 goals and adding 116 assists for 192 points. Brandt was an assistant captain from 2007 to 2012 before serving as the team captain in 2012-13. Brandt also played in the AHL for the Lake Erie Monsters, Manitoba Moose and Abbotsford Heat, while also playing in the ECHL for the Victoria Salmon Kings.
“Andy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to St. Norbert College,” Coghlin added. “He experienced Division I hockey at its highest level with the national championship at Wisconsin, and most recently completed his time as a player and coach in the ECHL. He has a clear understanding of player development and how to reach the next level.”
Brandt played four seasons and appeared in 130 games at Wisconsin from 2003-04 to 2006-07, highlighted with the Badgers’ NCAA championship in 2006. He was twice named the team’s Seventh Man Award recipient.
