Doc DelCastillo enters his first season with the Nanooks as the program's seventh head coach of the modern era.

Spending the last fi ve seasons as assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Alaska's Central Collegiate Hockey Association travel partner, DelCastillo shouldered the majority of the recruiting responsibility for the Mavericks.

A proven recruiter, DelCastillo successfully elicited a core group of skaters in his time at UNO, including Mavericks' All-American forward Scott Parse (CCHA Player of the Year 2006, Hobey Baker Finalist 2006 and 2007) and Bill Thomas (CCHA Rookie of the Year 2005), who helped reshape the hockey program and earn the Mavericks a trip to the NCAA tournament in 2006.

The 37-year old started coaching at his alma mater in 1998 and spent four seasons with the Huskies. While he was there, SCSU had the second-highest winning percentage in college hockey, fi nishing just behind Michigan State with a record of 83-34-6.

DelCastillo helped guide SCSU to 89 victories and the program's fi rst-ever WCHA Final Five championship in 2001. The Huskies gained three NCAA tournament bids during the DelCastillo era, and won the NCAA scoring title in 2001 and the power play crown in 2001 and 2002.

He got his start in coaching as an assistant with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL from 1992-93, before becoming an assistant with the Omaha Lancers in 1993-94 (Omaha won the Clark Cup that season). From 1994-97, DelCastillo served as head coach and general manager of the Rochester Mustangs of the USHL, where he posted an 88-75-7 record. He guided Rochester to a runner-up spot in the 1996 Clark Cup fi nals. He completed his USHL coaching experience as associate head coach and assistant general manager for the Omaha Lancers in 1997-1998 (Omaha won the Clark Cup that season).

A St. Paul, Minnesota native, DelCastillo was a standout winger for St. Cloud from 1988-92 where he won the Huskies' Sam Lopresti Award for Most Determined Player for the 1990-91 season and again in the 1991- 92 season. He was elected co-captain of the SCSU hockey team for the 1991-92 season. He received his bachelor's degree in elective studies from St. Cloud State in 1995, and completed his master's degree in sports management as a coach while at SCSU.

DelCastillo and his wife, Sue, have fi ve daughters, Britni, Brandi, Bryna, Brook, and Brylei.