Ian Herbers named head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals

The Milwaukee Admirals have made it official, naming Ian Herbers the new head coach of the team in the wake of Kirk Muller's departure to join the Carolina Hurricanes. The Ads just issued a press release, which follows after the jump:

The Milwaukee Admirals announced today that Ian Herbers has been named the team's new head coach. Herbers replaces Kirk Muller, who was named the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes today.

Herbers, the 19^th head coach in Admirals history, has spent the past two plus seasons as the team's top assistant. During his time in Milwaukee he has helped the Admirals to a combined 95-58-8-16 record, an impressive .605 winning percentage. In addition to his overall duties as bench boss, Herbers will continue to be responsible for the team's defensive corps and the penalty kill unit.

In addition, Nashville Predators Director of Player Development Martin Gelinas will serve as Herbers assistant coach on an interim basis.

Herbers joined the Admirals after spending two seasons as the head coach of the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL. During his time at the helm of the Chiefs, Herbers guided the team to a 73-60-8-3 record and a berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs in 2007-08 where they lost in the second round to the eventual champions. Prior to joining the Chiefs, the Jasper, AB native spent three seasons with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League, including two as the associate head coach. During those two years the Spirit compiled an impressive 80-51-2-3 record and a pair of playoff appearances.

The 44-year old Herbers, ended a successful 12-year playing career after the 2003-04 season. He totaled five assists and 79 penalty minutes in 65 career National Hockey League games with the Edmonton Oilers,Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders and helped two teams win league championships: the 1993 Cape Breton Oilers in the American Hockey League and the 1997 Detroit Vipers in the International Hockey League.

The Buffalo Sabers 10th pick in the 1987 NHL draft, Herbers played 586 games in parts of ten seasons in the AHL and IHL with the Oilers, Vipers and Cleveland Lumberjacks. He totaled 147 points on 40 goals and 107 assists to go along with 1113 penalty minutes. He also posted 26 points (5g-21a) and 179 PIMs in 91 career post-season contests. His best seasons from an offensive perspective came with Detroit in the 1998-99 campaign when he set career highs in goals (8), assists (16), and points (24).

Muller leaves the Admirals as the shortest tenured coach in team history. The previous mark was held by Richard Jamieson, who was fired after 25 games (6-15-4-0) in the 1979-80 season. This is the first time in Admirals history that they have had a coach promoted to the NHL during the season and the first time they have had a coaching change mid-year since 1984-85 when Jim Pappin replaced Cliff Coroll behind the bench.

Herbers will man the bench for the first time on Tuesday, November 29^th when the Admirals host the Abbotsford Heat at 7:00 pm at the Bradley Center.