Brian Meisner heads into his second season as an assistant coach for the Nanooks hockey team.

Prior to joining the Nanooks for the 2008-09 campaign, the Cloquet, Minnesota native served as an assistant coach for the University of Connecticut of the Atlantic Hockey Association during the 2007-08 season, following a 10-year campaign in junior hockey.

He was the head coach and general manager of the Wichita Falls Wildcats (Texas) of the North American Hockey League, where he coached Nanook forward Adam Cardwell. Beginning in 2004, he was a major contributor to the revitalization of the team after it had folded under previous ownership. During his tenure with Wichita Falls, he recorded a 148-114-26 record while developing more than 20 players who advanced to Division I hockey programs and placing twice as many at the Division III level.

Meisner also spent two seasons as the head coach/general manager of the Wichita Falls Rustlers (2002-04) and one season leading the Butte Irish (2001-02). With the Rustlers, Meisner led the team to a Junior A expansion record 43 wins in the first season after improving the Irish's record by 18 wins (21-28-7). For his effort with both teams, he was awarded the American West Hockey League Coach of the Year distinction for two consecutive seasons.

He began his junior hockey coaching career in the United States Hockey League as an assistant coach and general manager of the Waterloo Black Hawks, where he recruited and coached over 50 Division I collegiate players including Andrew Alberts of the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins.

Prior to his successful stint in the junior hockey system, Meisner spent a season refining his coaching skills at Duluth Central High School in Duluth, Minn.

Meisner, who was also a center in his playing days, graduated in 1993 from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn. with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and remained with the Saints until 1996 as an assistant coach under Bill Watson, a Hobey Baker Award winner. At his alma mater, he was responsible for recruiting and scouting while also holding a full time position within the college. He also has related experiences with the USA Hockey Select Festivals, coaching in the Central District from 1998-99 and has represented the Rocky Mountain District since 2005. Meisner was involved with the USA hockey Top Prospects Tournament coaching the 1999 "At Large" team and the AWHL team in 2002 and spent three years coaching at the National 15 Select Camp (2004-07).