Ohio State University associate head coach Brett Larson, who spent three seasons as a University of Minnesota Duluth assistant before departing for United States Hockey League in 2011, is returning to the Bulldog coaching staff to assume his old position. He replaces Derek Plante, who stepped down this past June for personal reasons following a five-year run at UMD.

"I am extremely excited to welcome Brett back to our staff," said UMD head coach Scott Sandelin. "His coaching strengths and recruiting experience will be a great addition to our program."

During Larson's three previous years in Duluth (2008-11), the Bulldogs rolled up a 70-40-15 overall record, captured the school's first-ever NCAA championship (2011), made two NCAA playoff appearances and qualified for the WCHA Final Five tournament three times. He also coached and/or recruited one Hobey Baker Award Memorial Award winner, four All-Americans, eight future NHLers and one 2014 U.S. Olympian. In late May 2011, Larson left UMD to take over the head coaching and general manager duties with the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers.  He spent two seasons in Sioux City and directed that club to the USHL playoffs as a rookie bench boss in 2011-12. He also tutored a pair of current Bulldogs in junior center Jared Thomas and junior defenseman Dan Molenaar. 

Larson, who served as the head coach for gold medal-winning Team USA at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge, returned to the collegiate ranks in 2013 when he signed on as Ohio State's associate head coach. He worked the past two winters under Steve Rohlik, his former Bulldog assistant coaching colleague, for Buckeye clubs that went 32-33-8 overall.

A Duluth native and 1991 Denfeld High School graduate, Larson patrolled the Bulldog blue line for four seasons, racking up 24 goals and 43 assists for 67 points in 133 games.  He captained the Bulldogs during his senior year in 1994-95 when he attained Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic Team recognition for a third straight time and also landed the team's Community Service Award. Larson enjoyed a breakout season the previous winter when he finished with 28 points and nine power play goals en route to being named UMD's Most Improved Player. That same year he set a program record for fastest two power play goals (12 seconds vs. Northern Michigan University) which still stands. As a sophomore, Larson and the Bulldogs captured the WCHA regular season title and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA playoffs.

Selected in the 11th round by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1990 National Hockey League draft, Larson went on to skate 12 years in the professional ranks, including two (1990-2001) as a player-coach with the San Diego Gulls of the now-defunct West Coast Hockey League. He also did time with the Colonial Hockey League's Madison Monsters, the East Coast Hockey League's Louisville Riverfrogs, the International Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies, Las Vegas Thunder and Long Beach Ice Dogs in addition to spending another five years in Denmark, Germany and England. He wrapped up his playing days in 2006-07 as a player/assistant coach for the Florida Seals of the Southern Professional Hockey League before that Orlando-based franchise folded at midseason. During the spring of 2008, Larson coached Team RBK (AAA selects) in the Twin Cities metro area.

"I could not be more thrilled to be coming home to work at my alma mater," said Larson.  "I loved my time playing and coaching at UMD and cannot wait to once again be part of the Bulldog family."

Larson, who received a Bachelor's degree in criminology from UMD in 2004, will turn 43 on Aug. 20 -- one day before his first official day with the Bulldogs. He and his wife, Kelly, have one son (Lane) and one daughter (Calla).