ITHACA, N.Y. — Austin Keiser, who spent the last two seasons as the goaltending coach and video coordinator for the ECHL's Toledo Walleye, has been hired as the newest director of hockey operations and video coordinator for the Cornell men's hockey team, it was announced Monday afternoon (Aug. 10) by Casey Jones '90, the Jay R. Bloom '77 Head Coach of Cornell Men's Ice Hockey.

"We are thrilled to welcome Austin to Cornell as our new director of hockey operations and video coordinator. He comes to us with valuable experience at the professional level, having spent the last two seasons with the Toledo Walleye, where he served as both a goaltending coach and video coordinator. His background is exactly what I envisioned for the position, and am confident he will be an immediate asset to our staff and our team. We look forward to watching him grow with our program."

"I am very thankful to (Senior Deputy Athletics Director for the Student-Athlete Experience/Senior Woman Administrator) Amy Foster and Casey Jones for giving me the opportunity to continue the tradition of Cornell hockey," Keiser said. "When the position was posted, I knew I wanted nothing more than to be in Ithaca and working with the Big Red. It's been my dream to work in college hockey, and I look forward to continuing to build the rich tradition of Cornell hockey."

Before his time in Toledo, Keiser spent four seasons (2020-24) as director of goaltending with the Nashville Jr. Predators' 18U AAA program, also taking on goaltending coach duties with the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators for the 2023-24 season. His junior hockey background also included stints as goalie director for the Milwaukee Junior Admirals Tier 1 AAA program (2018-20) and associate head coach of the NA3HL's Milwaukee Power (2018-19).

Keiser broke into the college coaching ranks as an assistant at his alma mater, Western New England, in 2016-17, before being behind the bench with Trine in 2017-18. He has also worked extensively at the grassroots and camp level, highlighted by serving as the head goalie instructor for CAN/AM Hockey (2013-21) and as a goalie instructor with Pro Crease Goaltending (2011-17).

A native of Dunwoody, Ga., Keiser spent three of his four collegiate seasons at SUNY Potsdam (2012-15) before transferring to Western New England, where he played his senior season in 2015-16 and earned his bachelor's degree in psychology. While at SUNY Potsdam, Keiser appeared in 27 games for the Bears and was a three-time SUNYAC Goaltender of the Week. During his senior year at Western New England, Keiser posted a 3.76 goals-against average and .904 save percentage despite a 1-13-1 record, and was named MVP of the Rutland Herald Showcase. He was a two-time All-Academic Team selection, earning the honor at each school.

Keiser also has professional playing experience, having attended training camp and appeared in exhibition games with the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators, earning second-star honors in his first game.