RPI Chooses Dave Smith to Lead Hockey Program

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is expected to name Dave Smith as the school’s new men’s hockey coach. The announcement could come as early as 2:30, according to multiple sources.

Smith, who played at Ohio State from 1988 to 1992, has been the head coach at Canisius College since the 2005-06 season. The Arthur, Ontario native has compiled a 172-223-59 record as coach of the Golden Griffins, winning the Atlantic Hockey Tournament and the NCAA Tournament bid that came with it during the 2012-13 campaign.

Smith replaces Seth Appert, who was fired after guiding RPI for the past 11 seasons. In addition to his tenure at Canisius, Smith served as an assistant coach at Miami, Bowling Green and Mercyhurst.

UMass assistant and RPI alum Ben Barr was presumed to be the frontrunner, but was passed up for the job. Also rumored to be finalists were Quinnipiac associate head coach Bill Riga and Oswego State head coach Ed Gosek.