After leading RIT to the Frozen Four in just its fifth season at Division I, coach Wayne Wilson has been rewarded with a contract extension through the 2014-15 season.
RIT president Dr. Bill Destler made the news public on Monday when the RIT hockey team was honored before a Rochester Red Wings International League baseball game.
It’s the first time Wilson will work at RIT under a multi-year contract.
Related link: Wayne Wilson coaching history
“I am excited to continue on at RIT,” said Wilson, who will enter his 12th season behind the bench for the Tigers in 2010-11. “It’s been a quick and exciting first five years of Division I play, and I’m looking forward to the next five years to take the next step and get closer to winning a national title.”
Wilson was named the 2010 Spencer Penrose Award winner, given to the Division I men’s hockey national coach of the year. RIT was 28-12-1 overall, and 22-5-1 in Atlantic Hockey play. The team also maintained a cumulative 3.30 grade-point average in 2009-10.
“Coach Wilson is a leader of young men both on and off the ice,” said Destler. “He’s led RIT to the Frozen Four. He’s led RIT to Atlantic Hockey Association championships. But more importantly, his players continue to perform strongly in the classroom and he’s installing character in these young men that will last a lifetime.”
A 1984 graduate of Bowling Green, Wilson played defense for the Falcons and was team captain for the Falcons’ 1984 NCAA championship. Wilson served as an assistant at Bowling Green before being named RIT’s seventh head coach in the 1999-2000 season. Prior to RIT moving into Division I, he led the Tigers to three NCAA Division III tournament appearances and was named the Edward Jeremiah Award winner as Division III coach of the year in 2001. He is the only coach to have won both the Penrose and Jeremiah awards.
In his 11 seasons as head coach at RIT, Wilson has compiled an overall record of 216-103-25.
“I couldn’t be happier with living in Rochester and working at RIT,” Wilson said. “Our administration has been extremely supportive, and our fan support is tremendous.”
