Eric Lang named new RPI head coach

Eric Lang, who led American International to four straight Atlantic Hockey regular-season titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances in nine seasons, has been named the next head coach at Rensselaer.

The team was informed of Lang's hiring this morning and an announcement is expected soon.

AIC decided to drop its hockey program to Division II status, and Lang already knew he wouldn't return. Most of AIC's roster is in the transfer portal.

Lang replaces Dave Smith, who was let go after eight years, which included one season during which the program chose not to play amid the COVID pandemic.

The year COVID shut down the season, 2019-20, was also the only one in Smith's tenure where RPI had a winning record, 17-15-2. RPI had a few winning seasons under Smith's predecessor, Seth Appert, which included its only trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last 30 years.

RPI hasn't been a consistent winner since the early 1990s. The program has two national championships to its credit, in 1954 with Ned Harkness as head coach, and in 1985 under Mike Addesa.

Lang has a track record of revitalizing dormant programs in difficult environments via outstanding recruiting. Prior to AIC, Lang spent time as an assistant coach at Army.