This comes as no surprise (especially since their names are on the '12-13 roster and no jobs openings have been posted), but Mike Hastings will keep Darren Blue and Todd Knott as his coaching staff. On Monday night, Hastings told attendees of the Dan Meyer Golf Classic that he was keeping both assistants around this year.
Both assistants worked through the interim between Troy Jutting's reassignment and Hastings' hiring as well as in the transition following Hastings being named coach. Blue had a full year-plus remaining on his contract while Knott's expired on June 30.
"Professional and personally, I really take seriously who I'm surrounded by," Hastings said in an interview on Tuesday. "It takes awhile to get to know someone and not just job-related. Our business needs trustworthy, loyal, honest, hard-working people, and that just gives you a start. I needed to get to know if they'd be a good fit."
Blue recently completed his 12th season on the MSU coaching staff. He is a former Mavericks player and captain. Knott has been with Minnesota State for three years.
"These guys have a track record," Hastings said. "I've crossed paths with Darren and Todd in the past, and I did my homework. ... I feel good about them, really good about them."
Hastings said there will be "a lot of crossover" with various duties, but Knott will be the primary recruiter, while Blue will be on the bench with Hastings more often.
"With both of them, they don't mind working hard," Hastings said. "Work ethic is not the issue."
Hastings also plans to hire a fulltime director of hockey operations. That job has been a graduate assistant position, most recently held by Garrett Lind.
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