When Mel Pearson agreed to become the head coach at Michigan Tech May 6 it created a hole on Red Berenson's staff for the first time since Billy Powers was hired for the 1993 season. On Thursday, after a month of searching for the right man to replace Pearson, U-M announced former Wolverine Brian Wiseman will return to his alma mater as an assistant coach ...

"When this opportunity opened up, he was the first name that came to mind," Berenson said in an interview on MGoBlue.com. "Now, we ended up with some great candidates but he was our first choice."

Former Wolverines Matt Herr (1995-98) and Billy Muckalt (1995-98), who had each entered the coaching ranks in recent years, were the other finalists sources told TheWolverine.com. Michigan actually settled on Wiseman May 24 but had to wait for Wiseman to complete the 2010-11 campaign with the Houston Aeros; the AHL club advanced to the Calder Cup Finals (the league's Stanley Cup) and fell 4-2 to the Binghamton Senators June 7.

"It was quick between the time I became aware of Mel leaving and when I made contact with Billy and Red because Michigan is a place very dear to my heart," Wiseman told TheWolverine.com Thursday.

"I don't know about the other candidates but I'd like to think my playing career and my coaching experience brings a positive element that they appreciate. I have great passion for Michigan hockey and for the University of Michigan itself."

Wiseman was one of Berenson's first great players, along with Denny Felsner (1989-92) and David Oliver (1991-94), racking up 348 points (third all time at U-M) in 166 games with the Maize and Blue from 1991-94. He was the CCHA Rookie of the Year after accumulating 25 goals and 58 assists as a freshman and was a first-team All-American, and a Hobey Baker finalist, as a senior after recording 19 markers and 69 total points.

"He was one of the first players that we had play at Michigan that wanted to come back," Berenson said. "He just loved it here. He came back every summer for the golf outings, and when he was playing, and even when he got into coaching, he stayed in touch and he made it clear that one day he wanted to come back to Michigan.

"It helps immensely that a coach has played at Michigan. He knows what's it's like at Michigan, what it should be like at Michigan and he knows the academics, the sports, the reputation of the school. You feel like you're a part of it ... you're not just working for the school, you're a part of it and Brian Wiseman will be that kind of coach for Michigan."

Wiseman has not spoken specifically with Berenson and Powers about his exact duties - Pearson used to coach the forwards while Powers was responsible for the defensemen and the two split recruiting territories - but he knows he must hit the ground running and is prepared to begin recruiting.

"My wife was in Ann Arbor this week, we'll be back next week with our girls and I should be there by the end of the month permanently and out recruiting shortly after that," he said.

Wiseman appeared in 446 career minor-league games in six seasons with the IHL and AHL before hanging up his skates to become a coach. He was an administrative assistant with U-M in 2001 and 2002, a video coach for the Dallas Stars in 2002 and was an assistant coach with Princeton in 2004. He spent this past year with the Aeros and expects to make a smooth transition back to the collegiate game.

"Sure there are differences but at the end of the day it's about communicating with a staff and student-athletes and I believe I do that well and the pro experience I've gained can be a positive," Wiseman said.

"I have a great passion for this place. I believe in what this program stands for, what this university stands for, and when I recruit I can communicate that.

"From my experience working with Red, Mel and Billy in an administrative role I understand the work they put into this job, the sacrifices they make, the details and preparation to keep this program as successful as it has been for the last 25 years and I'm going to do everything I can to play my role in sustaining that success while helping our student-athletes reach their goals on and off the ice."

"This will be Wiseman's time to move in and I think he'll make us better coaches, he'll make the team better and he'll make the program better," Berenson added.