Former University of Maine hockey player Kevin Swallow was named the head men’s ice hockey coach at the University of New England on Thursday.

Swallow, a 2010 graduate of UMaine, was the head coach at Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts, the last three years, leading the Bison to a 55-20-7 record and two ECAC Northeast championships. Nichols was ranked 15th in the nation in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll at the end of the 2014-15 season, when the Bisons finished 21-4-3.

“Kevin has demonstrated excellent success in building a Division III program, as well as earning bids to the NCAA tournament,” said Jack McDonald, UNE’s athletic director, in a statement. “I am very confident that our student-athletes will flourish under Kevin’s coaching, leadership and mentoring.”

Swallow, 29, began his college playing career at Dartmouth College and transferred to UMaine. He received the Black Bears’ Unsung Hero Award in 2010. He finished his career with 14 goals and 31 assists over 121 games.

He is looking forward to leading the UNE program.

“The team is on the verge of greatness and, with everything UNE has to offer, I feel the sky is the limit for the program,” he said in a statement. “I plan to instill the same culture and philosophies we had at Nichols, and our student-athletes will be expected to strive for excellence in all aspects of their lives.”

Swallow, a native of Stanwood, Michigan, was also a member of the U.S. U-18 national team that won a silver medal in the 2004 world championships.

He replaces Brad Holt, who led the Nor’easters to a 9-14-2 record in the 2014-15 season that ended in the ECAC East quarterfinals.

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