ANCHORAGE ? Alaska Anchorage athletic director Dr. Steve Cobb announced Wednesday that assistant hockey coach Damon Whitten will leave the program to become director of hockey operations at Michigan State.

“We are thankful to Damon for his time at UAA but we understand the draw to head back to Michigan State,” Cobb said. “We wish him the all the best in the future.”

The Brighton, Mich., native spent two seasons in Anchorage as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator after a two-year assistant stint at Wayne State, and one year with MSU, where he also played from 1997-2001.

“Damon has worked very hard for UAA and certainly played an integral part in the development of our student athletes. I thought he worked well with our players both on the ice and off. He always represented the hockey program and the athletic department in a very professional manner,” UAA hockey coach Dave Shyiak said. “Although we are sorry to see him go, we fully support him in his return to his alma mater. We wish him and his wife Angie the best of luck at Michigan State.”

A left wing for the Spartans, Whitten's class left as the most successful in program history with a four-year record of 122-28-20, including trips to the Frozen Four in 1999 and 2001. Whitten earned his bachelor's degree in communications from MSU in 2001, and his master's of science in kinesiology in 2005.

“Personally, for my wife and me, and professionally, it's been a great two years. It's been an unbelievable experience for us here in Anchorage. I really want to thank Dr. Cobb and Coach Shyiak for giving me the opportunity to grow professionally,” Whitten said. “Michigan State is my alma mater, it's home and it's where I met my wife. I wanted to make sure professionally it was a good opportunity and personally it's a chance to be home and closer to family.”