The Penn State Division I ACHA Icers will be ushering in a new era at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion on Friday. When the hockey team takes the rink for its first home game of the year against Scranton, fans will see a new man behind the bench for Penn State... well, sort of.

Scott Balboni, who has plenty of experience with the team after serving as an assistant coach from 1997-99 and 2002-06, has taken the reins for Penn State following the departure of former head coach Joe Battista.

Battista is the winningest coach in the history of the program, accumulating a record of 512-120-27 during his tenure. Upon stepping down from his position, he voiced his optimism about the future.

"I am very excited for the future of Penn State hockey under Scott's leadership," Battista said in a press release following Balboni's promotion. "When we hired him as an assistant coach in 1997, he brought a new enthusiasm and energy to the team that helped transform the program into a consistent winner."

That enthusiasm and energy helped the Icers to nine straight appearances in the ACHA title game. Balboni hopes to continue that success now that he has taken on an even bigger role, but he doesn't think the change at the top should affect the team that much.

"We're very similar," Balboni said. "The only person I ever learned under was Joe. We both see it as an academic-first program, and when it comes to the athletics we are very similar."

The on-ice performance for the Icers has been outstanding over the past few years. Out of all the appearances in championship games, though, the new coach is most fond of the 1998 title won by Penn State.

"I don't think we were the best team in that tournament, but the players really responded to what Joe and I were doing," Balboni said.

Balboni feels that during his time as an assistant, he learned a lot about the program. That will come in handy since his role will extend beyond just that of a head coach. He will also be in charge of marketing responsibilities as the Program/Marketing Coordinator of Ice Sports and the Penn State Ice Pavilion.

That job involves getting the general public involved with Penn State's various ice-skating, hockey and figure skating programs. His background in marketing and business expertise was one of the reasons he was chosen for the job, according to Meg Handley, coordinator of team sports at Penn State.

His business background may have led Balboni in a different direction entirely. However, not wanting to go into his family business of insurance after college was what led him to Penn State.

Balboni asked his hockey coach at Division I Providence College, where he played defenseman for the Friars, if there were any opportunities available as an assistant at the collegiate level.

At the Coaches Convention, he was offered a job by Battista and immediately packed his bags for State College.

"I had never even heard of Penn State [hockey] before," Balboni admits.

Now Balboni knows plenty, and as he begins his quest to hang more banners from the rafters of the Ice Rink, his is a name Icers fans will certainly want to learn.