"We've had the same short list for two or three years, both coaches and assistants, because we've gone through a few," [Craig Heisinger] said. "He's been a guy who was identified, even when Scotty wasn't here, a guy that we had talked about.

"Initially, it was difficult, being at UND and in a program with a rich tradition and history," he said yesterday. "But it wasn't, in the fact that I'm going to have a chance to work with some of the hard-working people I've already had relationships with. I'm very excited about working for [Scott Arniel] and Zinger and Mark Chipman (Moose governor).

"We've had a great relationship in the past and I've seen the job he's done in North Dakota."