ISU hockey assistant coach Brian Wierson will be leaving the coaching staff effective March 7. Wierson has completed his master’s degree at Iowa State and has accepted a job at Renewable Energy Group in Ames.

Wierson played for coach Al Murdoch for four years and was a three-year co-captain. He helped the Cyclones to two third-place finishes and two second-place finishes at Nationals.

Wierson also was Murdoch’s assistant coach for two years and has been his associate for the past four years. Wierson said that the feeling is both good and bad.

“It’s good to be moving on,” Wierson said. “That’s what coach [Murdoch] preaches, and puts you in a situation to move on and do bigger and better things.”

The thing that Wierson is going to miss the most is the bond he has developed with the players.

“It’s a family,” Wierson said. “This isn’t like anyone’s dying, but it’s a like a separation. I’ll miss 2:30, 3:00 everyday in the winter, I get to come to the hockey rink and put my skates on.”

With a son who will be three in April, Wierson doesn’t expect to be out of coaching too long.

“It’s just another chapter that I’m looking forward to,” Wierson said.