PITTSBURGH -- Former Robert Morris University men's hockey captain and scoring standout Ryan Cruthers '08 has joined Derek Schooley's coaching staff as an assistant.

Cruthers makes the move back to Pittsburgh after spending 2018-19 as the head coach of the Corpus Christi (Texas) IceRays of the junior-level North American Hockey League. He closed the previous season as the interim head coach of the United States Hockey League's Chicago Steel, following up a successful stint running the Charlotte Rush junior program in the USPHL.

"Since retirement from pro hockey, Ryan has gained tremendous experience coaching in two of the premier junior leagues in the country," Schooley said. "With that, we believe he will help our hockey program to take the next step. The fact that he's an alum adds value, as well."

Cruthers, 35, transferred to RMU in 2005 after two years at the United States Military Academy. The New York native led the Colonials in scoring in both 2006-07 and 2007-08, the latter of which he spent as team captain. He scored 39 goals and 86 total points in his two RMU seasons, finishing third in NCAA Division I in points per game in his senior season, when he was named the College Hockey America Player of the Year. He was also nominated for the Hobey Baker and Senior CLASS awards before embarking on a professional career.

"I'm really excited," Cruthers said. "This is an unbelievable opportunity. I was part of building the RMU program and I'm excited to be back."

While in the pros, Cruthers played parts of eight seasons for teams in the American Hockey League and ECHL. When he suited up for the Lake Erie (Ohio) Monsters in 2008-09, he was the first RMU alum to skate in the NHL's top developmental league. Cruthers played the majority of his pro career with in the ECHL, with five of those seasons spent with the Reading (Pa.) Royals. In 429 ECHL games, Cruthers netted 140 goals and 389 total points.

Appropriately, his duties with the Colonials will center on coaching forwards and helping to guide the power play alongside Schooley.

"Ryan was a very talented offensive player," said Schooley, who is the only head coach in the history of the program. "We believe, with his experiences, he will help to continue to develop our forwards and help our power play."

Following retirement in 2015, Cruthers' quick rise through the coaching ranks included twice being named a finalist for the USPHL Coach of the Year award and clinching playoff berths as bench boss in both the Tier I USHL and Tier II NAHL.

"I think a lot of it has to do with my relationship with players," Cruthers said of his coaching career. "Build a culture that's strong and let players know you care about them."

Cruthers isn't the first former Colonial to step behind the bench with Schooley, but his arrival marks the first time that happened since Joe Tuset '07 made the transition following his collegiate playing career.

With years of experience mentoring up-and-coming young players -- including incoming RMU freshman Santeri Hartikainen and 2020 Colonials recruit Brian Kramer at Corpus Christi -- Cruthers is well-suited to thrive in his new role.

"There's a great group of forwards that are currently at RMU," Cruthers said. "A lot of my job is to get more offense out of them. The more you score, the more wins you usually have. As a coach, my teams are usually high scoring and have good power plays.

"I really enjoy the video side of it, too. Looking forward to digging in there with the players, some of whom I'll have for four years."

Cruthers and Michael Gershon, who enters his fifth season at RMU, will assist Schooley as the men's hockey team embarks on its 16th D-I season this fall. Seven-year staff member Kody Van Rentergem will shift to Volunteer Coach for 2019-20.

Having made the Atlantic Hockey's final four in a league-record six straight seasons, the Colonials have established a tradition of excellence both on and off the ice. In addition to earning three Atlantic Hockey championships (two regular season, one postseason), an NCAA Tournament berth in 2014 and four other tournament titles, RMU has consistently paced the AHA in the classroom since joining the league in 2010-11. 

Also, 70 former Colonials have gone on to compete in professional hockey, while two -- the Class of 2012's Furman South and Brandon Blandina -- have worked in the NHL as referees.

For more information on Pittsburgh's only Division I men's hockey team, go to RMUColonials.com, or check out our official accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.