According to the Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the Milwaukee Admirals have hired Johnstown Chiefs Head Coach Ian Herbers as an assistant coach. The Chiefs have scheduled a press conference for 1pm CT on Monday for a "major announcement regarding team personnel."

Herbers was one of the three possible candidates Ryan Miller identified last week.

After leading the Chiefs to an impressive 10-4 start last season, Herbers earned some attention from NHL.com. But a 1-5-1 swoon over their final 7 games cost the team a shot at the playoffs. As the Kelly Cup playoffs began in April without Herbers' Chiefs, the local media began to inquire about his future.

“It would have to be the right situation,” Herbers said about returning to the Chiefs. The team was in danger of being dropped from the ECHL this summer due to the team's failure to arrange a new lease with the Cambira County War Memorial (The Chiefs' home rink...and also where the movie Slap Shot was filmed).

“If it’s a year lease with the team and the rink that’s not a stable situation, it’s not good. If it was a legitimate deal and the team was going to be stable and things would be done properly, I think Johnstown would be a fantastic place to be in the ECHL.”

There was some movement towards a new lease, and Herbers signed a contract extension with the Chiefs in May 2009: a one-year extension with an option for an additional four years, depending on a long-term deal being finalized.  

“I think Ian has proven himself to be community-minded and he certainly has the confidence of our fans,” Chiefs General Manager Bill Bredin said at the time. “I think he’s proven that he can be a coaching leader at this level. But I think he’s done a remarkable job in the player-personnel area. I would say he’s achieved more with less than any coach in the league.”

The 42 year old was an associate head coach for Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League from 2005-07, helping the Spirit reach the postseason in back-to-back seasons while going 81-51-5. He was an assistant coach for Saginaw in 2004-05 after working as an assistant coach with the AHL's San Antonio Rampage in 2003-04.

UPDATE 9:02am on Monday -- It's officially official now.  And a nice quote from Coach Lambert included with the press release: 

“I am very excited to add Ian to our staff for this upcoming season,” said Admirals head coach Lane Lambert.  “He has been involved in the game at all levels, from juniors all the way up to the NHL and he brings vast experience to us as a player, assistant and head coach.  I am looking forward to working closely with Ian to continue the winning tradition that we have had here in Milwaukee.”