STEVENS POINT - He was a little-used defenseman for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in his first couple of seasons.

Tyler Krueger didn't complain and kept working. The Stevens Point Area Senior High graduate eventually became part of the regular blueline rotation and UWSP captain as a senior.

His college coach Chris Brooks thought so much of his acumen for the game he asked Krueger to join him on his coaching staff.

When Brooks accepted an assistant coaching position at Division I Michigan Tech in late June, a month later Krueger was named the interim head coach.