COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today that Todd Richards (Crystal, Minn.) has been named head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team that will participate in the 2015 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship May 1-17 in Ostrava and Prague, Czech Republic. Richards will be joined behind the U.S. bench by assistant coaches Dan Byslma (Grand Haven, Mich.) and Greg Carvel (Canton, N.Y.).

Richards, who is representing the United States in international competition for the third time, will be making his debut as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. Previously, he served as an assistant coach for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team in Sochi, Russia, and also the 2010 U.S. Men’s National Team during the IIHF World Championship in Germany.

Currently, Richards serves as head coach of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets. His team was plagued by injuries for much of the 2014-15 season, however, finished the regular season with wins in 16 of its last 17 games. Prior to being named head coach on May 14, 2012, Richards was the interim head coach for 41 games during the 2011-12 season after holding the position of assistant coach for the first half of that year. He began his NHL head-coaching career in 2009-10 with the Minnesota Wild where he spent two seasons. Prior to joining the Wild, he was an assistant coach for the San Jose Sharks in 2008-09 and helped lead the club to the NHL’s best regular-season record.