Men's Hockey | 7/30/2013 10:29:00 AM

ROCHESTER, NY – RIT Men's Hockey Head Coach Wayne Wilson signed a four-year contract extension through the 2016-17 season, announced by Executive Director of Athletics Lou Spiotti Jr. on Wednesday, July 31.
 
Wilson, who will enter his 15th season behind the bench at RIT in 2013-14, is the university's all-time leader with a 270-145-44 record. Since the start of the 2006-07 season, the Tigers have a 145-90-30 record while competing against the best Division I teams in the nation. He led RIT to the 2010 Frozen Four and 2010 Atlantic Hockey Association Championship.
 
"Wayne Wilson and RIT Hockey have become synonymous," said Spiotti. "He has led our program through an era that has been marked by excellence and success. We are fortunate to have a coach of his caliber at the helm of our Division I program. Coach Wilson's agreement with RIT secures his presence behind the Tigers bench and the prospects of many successful years ahead."
 
After the Frozen Four run, Wilson signed a five-year extension to stay at RIT. The current extension will wipe out the final two seasons of the original contract Wilson signed in 2010.
 
The Tigers have become a perennial power in Atlantic Hockey, recording a 117-50-26 mark in league play since joining in 2006. Wilson has led the Tigers to four AHA regular season titles. Last season, RIT went 15-18-5 and advanced to the AHA Quarterfinals for the sixth straight season.

Under Wilson's tutelage, the Tigers have defeated at least one nationally-ranked team in all eight seasons of Division I play. In 2010, RIT defeated Denver, who was the No. 2 team in the nation, and last season, RIT opened by upsetting No. 3 Michigan at famed Yost Arena.
 
"I would like to thank (RIT President) Dr. Destler, (RIT Senior Vice President of Student Affairs) Dr. Mary Beth Cooper, Lou Spiotti, and all of our administration for their support," said Wilson. "The RIT community, our fans, and the Rochester community makes this the best job to have in Atlantic Hockey."
 
Wilson is the only head coach to win both the Edward Jeremiah Award (2001 Division III National Coach of the Year) and the Penrose Award (Division I National Coach of the Year).
 
The Tigers have won at least 20 games in a season seven times under Wilson. In 2010, Wilson led the squad to a 28-12-1 record en route to the historic Frozen Four run.

A 1984 graduate of Bowling Green, Wilson played defense for the Falcons — and then coach Jerry York — from 1980-1984, serving as team captain in 1984 when BGSU won the NCAA championship in an historic four overtime battle against Minnesota-Duluth, prevailing by 5-4.

Wilson later served as an assistant at Bowling Green before taking the RIT head coach position in 1999. Prior to RIT moving into Division I, he led the Tigers to three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.
 
"It really is a pleasure to work on a daily basis with such a great coaching staff, support staff, and exceptional student-athletes, as we work together in our goal of winning the AHA Championship and make the NCAA Tournament," said Wilson.

RIT will play its ninth season at the Division I level in 2013-14. The Tigers will play 34 regular season contests and open with a home contest against Colgate on Thursday, October 10 at 7:05 p.m.