Lance West enters his second season as the Nanook assistant hockey coach.The Penticton, British Columbia native has over thirteen years of NCAA Division I hockey related experience.

Prior to being named the Nanooks assistant coach for the 2008-09 campaign, he served as a volunteer assistant coach and the team's video coordinator, while working full-time at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Student Recreation Center as the SRC Facility Manager.

Before he moved to Fairbanks, West served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Alabama-Huntsville, for seven consecutive seasons (2000-07). As an assistant coach for the Chargers, West shared responsibility for developing and documenting team procedures, recruiting, practices, scheduling non-conference games, fund raising, travel, and video. While at UAH, West was also health and physical education instructor (2002-07).

He helped mentor the Chargers squads that won two College Hockey America regular season championships, made four conference tournament appearances and one NCAA tournament appearance during his final season (2006-07).

It marked his second stint with the UAH coaching staff as he had previously served as a volunteer assistant for the Chargers from 1995-1998, when the Chargers captured two Division II National Championships (1996 & 1998).

Prior to his coaching days, West was a four-year letter winner for the Chargers from 1991-95. The offensive-minded center amassed 43 goals and 65 assists for 108 points in 106 games (1.02 ppg) in his collegiate playing career and currently sits 20th on UAH's All-Time Scoring Leaders list. As a senior, he was voted team captain and received the UAH hockey team's Coaches Award.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology, minor in chemistry and Class B Teaching Certification from UAH.