KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan hockey program and head coach Andy Murray have announced the addition of Bob Caldwell to the WMU hockey staff.

Caldwell fills the role vacated by Spiros Anastas, who was recently named general manager of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BCHL. He has coached at various levels of hockey and has been recognized by Hockey Canada for his leadership in coaching development programs in that country.

"Last season we had the good fortune of to have Spiros as an assistant coach and we are excited for him and his new opportunity in Port Alberni," said Murray. "In securing Bob Caldwell as a member of our staff we have added one of the best technical and teaching minds in the game. Bob has over 35 years of experience in teaching and coaching hockey."

Coach Caldwell has also spent time in Russia, Finland, Poland and Romania studying the game while helping those nations in improving their coaching development models. He is a native of Deloraine, Manitoba. He and his wife Vicki have two children, a daughter Kelly and son Ryan. Caldwell's son was an All-American defenseman and won a National Championship at the University of Denver and now plays in Finland after spending time in the NHL.

In Manitoba he fills a number of volunteer roles: serving as Hockey Manitoba Master Mentor, sitting on Hockey Canada's Athlete Development Committee and National Coach Mentorship Advisory Council and chairing Sport Manitoba's Advisory Board. Caldwell was one of the driving forces behind the formation of the National Coach Mentorship Program in Canada and continues to facilitate seminars from Calgary to St. John's. He also initiated the Breakfast Club concept of utilizing idle morning ice in community rinks which now boasts 25-plus Manitoba members and several in other provinces such as Ontario, Newfoundland and Saskatchewan.