OXFORD, Ohio - Miami head hockey coach Enrico Blasi announced the hiring of Peter Mannino as the RedHawks' associate head coach on Thursday.

Mannino, who spent the previous season as an assistant coach at Omaha, will be heavily involved in Miami's recruiting efforts while also coaching and developing the team.

"We are excited to bring in a coach with Peter's passion, knowledge, work ethic and winning pedigree," Blasi said. "As both a coach and a player, Peter Mannino's teams have consistently been winners. His knowledge of the game and eye for talent on the recruiting trail is an exciting addition to The Brotherhood."

While with the Mavericks in 2017-18, Mannino was the primary scout and recruiter. He coached and developed Omaha's goaltenders, coordinated official and unofficial visits for prospective student-athletes, assisted with UNO's penalty kill and coaching decisions and also assisted in developing the skills of the Mavericks' forwards and defensemen while helping manage the bench on gamedays.

Prior to joining Omaha, Mannino spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, where he served as the team's primary scout and recruiter. He worked closely with the Steel's penalty kill unit that finished first in the USHL in 2017 and second in 2016. Chicago went 65-43-12 in the two seasons Mannino spent on its bench, capturing a Clark Cup following the 2016-17 season, one that saw the Steel set a franchise record with 38 victories and 81 points while making their first playoff appearance in nine seasons at the time. Mannino also worked directly with the Steel's goaltenders and was primarily responsible for the player's housing and school placements.

Mannino's other coaching experience includes serving as goalie coach for the Lane Tech College Prep High School Hockey Club. He also has a long list of camp instruction assignments that include the USA Hockey Select 15's (Rochester, N.Y.), Wendell Young Camps (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), Pro Ambitions Hockey Academy (Boulder, Colo.), Impact Elite Hockey Camps (Vernon Hills, Ill.), USA Warren Strelow (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Mick's Hockey Schools (Chicago, Ill.) and University of Denver Hockey Camps (Denver, Colo.).

Mannino spent his collegiate career as a standout goaltender for the University of Denver, backstopping the team to a national championship as a freshman during the 2004-05 season. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 NCAA Tournament as the Pioneers captured their crown. In four years at DU, Mannino compiled a 61-32-5 overall record, a 2.35 goals against average and a .917 career save percentage. He also finished his collegiate career with a school-record 15 shutouts before going on to play professionally for seven seasons at a variety of levels, including NHL appearances with the New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets.

A 2008 graduate from Denver, Mannino earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management.