Austin names Phil Oberlin as team's first Head Coach/GM

The Austin Ice Bats of the NA3HL have hired Phil Oberlin as the Head Coach/GM for the inaugural 2021-2022 season. Oberlin previously coached at the Ohio University and last season the Yellowstone Quake of the NA3HL.

“We are excited to add an experienced NA3HL coach to our team. Going into an expansion year we had an amazing level of interest with 55 applications in 2 days of live posting and found someone in Phil that had a passion for the game, recruiting, and really aligned with our focus on development. He brings a love for the game and a background in the NA3HL that will make the Ice Bats successful in our first season,” said Austin Ice Bats President Ryan Raya.

Coach Oberlin has already been hard at work, completing the NA3HL Draft last week and implementing his vision for the organization immediately.

“I met with Phil and had a conversation on his vision for this program. It aligned with what the Austin Ice Bats and this ownership group wanted to achieve.  We want to create a world-class organization to develop players to further their careers, but more important have outstanding individuals on and off the ice,” said John Sgro, Scouting Director for the Ice Bats.

For the past three seasons, Oberlin was the head coach of the NA3HL’s Yellowstone Quake. Prior to joining the Quake, coach Oberlin spent seven years as the Head Coach of the Ohio University ACHA Division II Hockey team.  While coach Oberlin was at the helm of Ohio, the team recorded a 143-81-9 record and made the Tri-State Collegiate Hockey League (TSCHL) playoffs each of the 7 years.

Additionally, the team won the 2015-16 TSCHL Regular Season Championship, the 2017-18 TSCHL Tournament Championship, made 4 straight ACHA Southeast Regional Tournament Bids (2014 – 2018) and earned the programs first ever ACHA National Tournament Bid in 2016-17.  In 2013-14 coach Oberlin was awarded Coach of the Year honors by the TSCHL.

Oberlin was selected as an assistant coach for the ACHA Division Two Select team, which traveled to Europe and participated in the first annual World Cup of College Hockey, earning a Silver Medal.