C.R. RoughRiders hire former goalie Cody Campbell as assistant coach

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have reached back into their past for a new assistant coach.

Cody Campbell has been hired by the United States Hockey League club, it was announced Tuesday.

Campbell, 24, was a goaltender for the RoughRiders for parts of the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. He played three seasons at Niagara University in New York before embarking on his coaching career.

He was an assistant for Odessa and Janesville of the North American Hockey League and head coach of the Colorado Springs Tigers U16 team. Campbell is from Colorado Springs.

He replaces Shane Connelly on staff. Connelly recently left the Riders for a position at the University of Wisconsin.

'The RoughRiders organization is very excited to welcome Cody and his fiancée, Jessica, back to Cedar Rapids.' said RoughRiders Coach/General Manager Mark Carlson. 'Cody has gained some quality experience over the past three seasons scouting and coaching in the NAHL, as well as this season with the Colorado Springs Tigers. His experience as a player in the USHL and with the RoughRiders will be an asset to our team.'

'I'm extremely excited and honored to come back and be part of an organization that has been a very large part of some of the best memories in hockey for me,' said Campbell. 'My time there as a player was tremendous. We want to focus on getting better every day and improving day by day. The team is trending in the right direction and we need to continue to build on that as we come together as a team.'

The Riders play road games Friday and Saturday nights at Madison.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com