After 4 seasons in USHL, former Alaska Anchorage coach Curley tapped as new affiliate head coach for Alaska

Alaska has introduced the hiring of Matt Curley because the staff’s new affiliate head coach.

Curley joins the Nanooks after 4 seasons as common supervisor and head coach of the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers.

“We’re extremely excited to welcome Matt Curley to the Alaska Nanooks as our affiliate head coach,” stated Alaska head coach Erik Largen in a press release. “Matt brings a wealth of expertise — from profitable worldwide medals with USA Hockey, to teaching within the USHL, NCAA, and Europe. He’s a confirmed chief who’s developed gamers at each degree, and his time as a head coach at UAA provides him distinctive perception into what it takes to construct and maintain a profitable program in Alaska. Much more essential than his resume is the sort of particular person he’s. Matt is an unbelievable particular person, hardworking, and deeply dedicated to mentoring younger males each on and off the ice. He builds sturdy relationships, brings out the most effective in his gamers, and leads with integrity.

“We’re lucky so as to add somebody of his caliber to our workers and excited for the way forward for Nanooks hockey.”

Curley served as head coach and GM of the Buccaneers from 2021 to 2025. Earlier than his time within the USHL, he was head coach at Alaska Anchorage from 2018 to 2021 and spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Bentley from 2013 to 2015. Between his first two NCAA stints, Curley was the top coach for RB Hockey Juniors in Austria, spending 2015 to 2018 there.

His resume additionally consists of a number of years on the worldwide stage with USA Hockey, serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Beneath-17 and Beneath-18 nationwide groups in the course of the 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2021–22, and 2022–23 seasons.

A local of Madrid, N.Y., Curley performed 4 seasons at Clarkson (2003–07) and gained the 2006-07 ECAC match. Following school, he had a two-year skilled profession that included stints within the SPHL, IHL, and ECHL.

“I couldn’t be happier to be coming again to the state of Alaska, a spot that has all the time felt like house to me,” stated Curley. “I’m grateful for the chance to work alongside Coach Largen, the remainder of the Nanooks hockey workers and gamers. It’s a privilege to be part of a program that’s so strongly supported by the group and college. I’m wanting ahead to contributing in direction of the continued development and growth of Nanooks hockey.”