STEVENS POINT, Wis. – UW-Stevens Point Director of Athletics Brad Duckworth announced today (July 20) that associate head coach Tyler Krueger will serve as interim head coach for the UWSP men's hockey program for the 2017-18 season.   Additionally, former Pointer Evan Dixon has been tabbed as an assistant coach on the staff.  Both appointments will be for the 2017-18 season and a full national search will begin following the conclusion of the upcoming season.
 
"We are excited to have Tyler take the reins for the 2017-18 season," said Duckworth.  "He is a bright hockey mind and we saw great value in keeping consistency with this highly successful program."
 
Krueger (pronounced CREE-ger) spent the last three seasons on the staff of former head coach Chris Brooks, most recently as associate head coach.  He was a pivotal part of the Pointers' three-year run to the National Championship game in 2014, 2015 and 2016.  From behind the bench, Krueger helped UWSP win its first WIAC Tournament title and fifth National Championship in 2016.
 
Prior to joining the coaching staff, Krueger was a four-year member of the Pointers hockey team.  He skated in 79 games as a Pointer with two goals, 15 assists and a plus/minus of +34 for his career.  He captained the 2014 team that reached the NCAA title game.
 
Krueger graduated from UWSP in 2014 with a bachelor of science in health promotion/wellness. 
 
Dixon captained the 2016 UWSP team that captured the fifth national title in program history.  That season, he was an Elite 90 Award winner and the WIAC Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete.  As a member of the UWSP team, he led the Pointers to three-consecutive NCAA Title games culminating with the national championship in 2016. 
 
He skated in 117 games in a Pointer jersey over four seasons with 22 goals, 16 assists and 38 points.  In his final three seasons at UWSP, Dixon was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship team.  Following his senior season, Dixon went on to play professionally with the Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).  He scored seven goals and added 11 assists in 56 games last year in Fayetteville.
 
Krueger and Dixon were both members of the Pointers hockey team playing together in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.