Bowling Green and USA Hockey announced that head coach Scott Paluch has left the program to take a position as a regional manager with USA Hockey’s American Development Model. Bowling Green assistant coach Dennis Williams was promoted to interim head coach for the 2009-10 season.

Paluch was Bowling Green’s head coach for the last seven seasons and compiled a record of 84-156-23. He is a 1991 graduate of Bowling Green and it was his first head coaching position after successful stints as an assistant coach at Boston College and Bowling Green.

“Scott has given everything he has to BGSU hockey and we all wish him the best,” Bowling Green Director of Athletics Greg Christopher said. “He’ll bring a wealth of experience to USA Hockey and I know that he’ll be following the Falcons. Scott has been a first-class representative of BGSU Athletics and our hockey team reflects that as well.”

“I am very excited to be joining USA Hockey and getting in on the ground floor of this new initiative. I look forward to assisting in the development of players in the United States,” Paluch said in the release.

“This was a tough decision, but an opportunity I could not pass up. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to be the head coach at Bowling Green State University. I have enjoyed every minute being back heading the program that will always be a special place for my family and me.”

Williams finished his first season as Bowling Green assistant coach last year and was a three-year head coach at Division III Neumann College, in the 2003-04 through 2005-06 seasons, where he had a 35-32-8 record, including a 17-5-5 mark in his final year. He was an assistant coach at Alabama-Huntsville between his time at Neumann and Bowling Green. Williams is a 2001 graduate of Bowling Green and played four years for the Falcons.

“I want to thank Scott Paluch for giving me the opportunity to return to Bowling Green and the CCHA,” Williams said. “I am looking forward to having the opportunity to lead the Falcons for the 2009-2010 season. As an alumnus, it is a great honor to be able to coach at your alma mater. I am very excited about the challenge and I would like to thank (BGSU Director of Athletics) Greg Christopher for providing me with this opportunity.”

A search will begin immediately to fill Bowling Green’s two vacant assistant coaching positions.