The man they call "JoeBa" is moving his office from the hockey rink to the fundraising trail.

After 19 years, six ACHA national championships and 512 wins as head coach of the Penn State Icers, Joe Battista has been named executive director of the Nittany Lion Club, an organization dedicated to fundraising for Penn State varsity sports.

"It's a perfect fit, as far as I'm concerned," said Battista, who graduated from Penn State in 1983 with a degree in marketing. "If somebody could have drawn up what's a good next step for a Penn State alum, somebody that's worked in the athletic department for 19 years, has a marketing background, loves Penn State, this is it. It's just a great opportunity for me and for my family."

Battista replaces Kay Kustanbauter, who retired in December after serving as executive director of the organization since 1989.

Battista, referred to as "JoeBa" by Icers faithful, compiled a 512-120-27 record during 19 seasons as coach. During that span, the Icers won six ACHA National Championships and were runners-up six times, including each of the past three seasons. But Battista said success on the ice was not the only thing on his mind when making the decision to hang up his whistle.

"As I told the guys [on the team], I've spent the last 25 years helping to raise other people's kids. I needed to be able to get into a job that would allow me to continue to be passionate about what I do but also be able to live a life," said Battista, who has a 13-year-old daughter and two younger sons.

The move came as a complete shock to players, who were notified at a team meeting last Sunday.

"If you could have taken a still photo of the moment after he told us, I think

you would have seen everybody with their jaws on the floor," junior goaltender Chris Matteo said.

Battista was an Icers defenseman from 1978-82 and was named captain and most valuable player in his senior season. Off the ice, he was one of eight original Lion Ambassadors.

Following graduation, Battista landed an internship with the Pittsburgh Penguins, with the help of a letter of recommendation from then-Athletic Director Joe Paterno. Battista eventually became head coach of the Junior Penguins at age 21. He had one-year stints as a coach at Kent State and Culver Military Academy before returning to Penn State in 1987.

Since then, Battista has not only enjoyed on-ice success but built strong relationships with what he calls the "Icers family," which includes players, parents and fans, past and present.

"The outpouring of e-mails that I have gotten already has made me feel really good about what's been done," Battista said. "There's still unfinished business for hockey. The program's still got to evolve hopefully to a next level."

A new head coach has not been selected, nor has a date for an announcement been given.

"We'll get the right people around the table, determine the best way to develop a list of qualified candidates and begin to narrow down the field," Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley said in a statement.

Whoever does replace Battista has some pretty big shoes to fill, according to one player.

"The biggest thing that everyone doesn't see is how much he does behind the scenes, more of the general manager type role," junior forward Mike McMullen said. "That's the biggest thing for a new coach. There's so much that he does with getting us support, funding, sponsors."

Battista will now be doing that for an entire athletic department, and he said he is looking forward to it.

"I'm happy. Happy is not the right word -- I'm ecstatic," Battista said. "I get to spend all my time promoting Penn State athletics to Penn State people. It's just such a natural. I feel blessed, I really do."