It's official: Jutting is new UNO assistant (updated)

Nebraska Omaha announced on Tuesday that ex-Minnesota State coach Troy Jutting is the hockey team's newest assistant. Read the UNO release here.

Omaha coach Dean Blais said in the release: "We are fortunate that we have been able to add someone of Troy's experience to our staff. After so many games coaching against us, he knows our program and our players. Just as important, he knows the WCHA and what it takes to be successful there. I think he can help us as we compete for league and national championships."

Jutting takes the spot previously held by Brian Renfrew, however, he will also go to a bench that the last three seasons had his own successor at MSU, Mike Hastings, making for a bit of a coach swap between the purple Mavericks and the red Mavericks.

Jutting was the head coach at Minnesota State for 12 years and spent the previous 10 as an assistant. He also played for MSU, meaning this will be his first college coaching job away from his alma mater.

UPDATE: Jutting told the Omaha World-Herald: "I'm very excited and looking forward to it. Coach Blais is one of the best, if not the best, in college hockey, and there's a great group of kids there. It's a program that's definitely on the rise. I hope I can be a valuable addition to the coaching staff."

Said Blais: "It really helps that he's familiar with the league. He did a good job of recruiting and coaching in the heart of University of Minnesota territory, where Minnesota kind of hand-picked its guys. Then you've got North Dakota, Wisconsin and St. Cloud State to go against, and Bemidji State is in there now, too."

Read more here.