Men’s hockey assistant coach Eric Rud will be leaving St. Cloud State to accept a position as the head coach of the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League sources say. A press conference is expected to take place at 2:30 PM today to introduce Rud.

Rud has spent the last five seasons at St. Cloud primarily running the defensive units. A former All-WCHA defenseman at Colorado College, Rud came to St. Cloud in 2005 after serving as an assistant for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders following a minor league playing career that saw him skate in over 300 games.

Rud was seen Monday at National Hockey Center talking on the phone. Minnesota Hockey Journal reported later in the day that St. Cloud was already searching for a replacement for Rud who will be taking over for John Cooper who was hired by the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals.

For the latest on Eric Rud’s departure and on St. Cloud State hockey,  follow KVSCHockey on Twitter.