Rud Departs St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey, Accepts Head Coach Position at Alaska Anchorage
4/28/2026 9:07:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Rud spent the past two seasons as an Assistant Coach, his third stint with the Huskies
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Men's Hockey has announced that Assistant Coach Eric Rud is stepping down to pursue a head coaching position at Alaska Anchorage.
A 25-year veteran of the coaching world with head coaching experience, Rud has spent the past two seasons on staff for the Huskies, his third stint with the Huskies after previously serving as the head coach of the women's team from 2014-19 and as an assistant for the men's team from 2005-10. He also served as an Associate Head Coach for Miami (2019-22) and an assistant coach for Colorado College (2004-05, 2011-14) at the collegiate level, as well as time in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede (2022-24, head coach), Green Bay Gramblers (2010-11, Head Coach and General Manager) and Cedar Rapids Roughriders (2002-04, Assistant Coach, Director of Scouting).
Rud led the Huskies blue liners over the past two seasons, as Colin Ralph earning All-NCHC Rookie Team honors in 2024-25. This past season, the Huskies' defensemen accounted for 26.17 percent of SCSU's scoring (78 points), its highest percentage of production since 2022-23.
Rud's second stint in the Granite City came as the head coach of SCSU Women's Hockey (2014-19), where he coached five Huskies to all-conference recognition and had 63 WCHA all-academic recipients. Three Huskies earned WCHA All-Rookie Team honors in consecutive seasons under Rud's tutelage with Julie Tylke (2015-16), Janine Alder (2016-17) and Emma Polusny (2017-18) all earning the recognition. Alder was also the team's first Olympian, as she represented Switzerland in the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games.
In his first stop in St. Cloud, Rud was an important figure in building the Husky Hockey program into what it is today, as he served as an assistant coach for the Huskies from 2005-10. In his five seasons on the bench, Rud helped the Huskies record five consecutive winnings seasons, reach three NCAA Tournaments and advance to the 2010 NCAA West Regional Championship Game. He was instrumental in the recruiting efforts during his tenure, leading the charge in signing 2013 Hobey Baker winner Drew LeBlanc, Hobey Baker finalists Ryan Lasch and Nic Dowd and all-conference honorees Andreas Nodl, Garrett Roe and Nick Jensen. In all, three Huskies earned All-America, 16 earned All-WCHA recognition and Nodl was named the 2006-07 WCHA Rookie of the Year with Rud on staff.
A 1997 graduate of CC, Rud was a two-time team captain and two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Year for the Tigers during his collegiate playing career. He went on to play professional hockey from 1997-02 and served as a player assistant coach with the Florida Everblades (ECHL) in 1999-00 and with the Idaho Steelheads (WCHL) from 2000-02. He joined the coaching ranks as an assistant with the USHL's Cedar Rapids Roughriders from 2002-04 and was an assistant coach at Colorado College in 2004-05.
Rud has worked extensively with the USA Hockey program throughout his career and served as the head coach of the 2008 USA U-17 team in the Slovakia Four Nations Cup, the 2009 USA U-18 team at the Czech Republic Ivan Hlinka Cup and the 2022 USA Hockey World Junior Challenge team that won a gold medal.
A native of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Rud prepped at Simley High School. Rud and his wife have three children Sam, Gabbie and Max.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. To contact the ticket office, visit www.scsutickets.com or call 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-308-2137.
A 25-year veteran of the coaching world with head coaching experience, Rud has spent the past two seasons on staff for the Huskies, his third stint with the Huskies after previously serving as the head coach of the women's team from 2014-19 and as an assistant for the men's team from 2005-10. He also served as an Associate Head Coach for Miami (2019-22) and an assistant coach for Colorado College (2004-05, 2011-14) at the collegiate level, as well as time in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede (2022-24, head coach), Green Bay Gramblers (2010-11, Head Coach and General Manager) and Cedar Rapids Roughriders (2002-04, Assistant Coach, Director of Scouting).
Rud led the Huskies blue liners over the past two seasons, as Colin Ralph earning All-NCHC Rookie Team honors in 2024-25. This past season, the Huskies' defensemen accounted for 26.17 percent of SCSU's scoring (78 points), its highest percentage of production since 2022-23.
Rud's second stint in the Granite City came as the head coach of SCSU Women's Hockey (2014-19), where he coached five Huskies to all-conference recognition and had 63 WCHA all-academic recipients. Three Huskies earned WCHA All-Rookie Team honors in consecutive seasons under Rud's tutelage with Julie Tylke (2015-16), Janine Alder (2016-17) and Emma Polusny (2017-18) all earning the recognition. Alder was also the team's first Olympian, as she represented Switzerland in the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games.
In his first stop in St. Cloud, Rud was an important figure in building the Husky Hockey program into what it is today, as he served as an assistant coach for the Huskies from 2005-10. In his five seasons on the bench, Rud helped the Huskies record five consecutive winnings seasons, reach three NCAA Tournaments and advance to the 2010 NCAA West Regional Championship Game. He was instrumental in the recruiting efforts during his tenure, leading the charge in signing 2013 Hobey Baker winner Drew LeBlanc, Hobey Baker finalists Ryan Lasch and Nic Dowd and all-conference honorees Andreas Nodl, Garrett Roe and Nick Jensen. In all, three Huskies earned All-America, 16 earned All-WCHA recognition and Nodl was named the 2006-07 WCHA Rookie of the Year with Rud on staff.
A 1997 graduate of CC, Rud was a two-time team captain and two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Year for the Tigers during his collegiate playing career. He went on to play professional hockey from 1997-02 and served as a player assistant coach with the Florida Everblades (ECHL) in 1999-00 and with the Idaho Steelheads (WCHL) from 2000-02. He joined the coaching ranks as an assistant with the USHL's Cedar Rapids Roughriders from 2002-04 and was an assistant coach at Colorado College in 2004-05.
Rud has worked extensively with the USA Hockey program throughout his career and served as the head coach of the 2008 USA U-17 team in the Slovakia Four Nations Cup, the 2009 USA U-18 team at the Czech Republic Ivan Hlinka Cup and the 2022 USA Hockey World Junior Challenge team that won a gold medal.
A native of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Rud prepped at Simley High School. Rud and his wife have three children Sam, Gabbie and Max.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. To contact the ticket office, visit www.scsutickets.com or call 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-308-2137.
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