Moon Township, Pa. - Director of Athletics Craig Coleman, M.D., announced Wednesday that Robert Morris University has extended the contract of head women's ice hockey coach Nate Handrahan. Handrahan received a three-year contract extension and will now coach the Colonials through the 2013-14 season.

"We're very excited to extend the contract of Nate Handrahan and keep him as part of the RMU family for several more years," Coleman said. "In the short time that our women's ice hockey team has existed as a Division I sport, Nate has developed an excellent program. We see a great future in the years to come for the program with Nate at the helm."

Handrahan has been at the forefront of a complete turnaround of a women's ice hockey program that debuted as a Division I sport at Robert Morris in 2005-06. Since his first year in 2006-07, Handrahan has led Robert Morris to an overall record of 46-88-7, improving RMU's record each season.

"I'm very thankful to Dr. Coleman and Dr. Dell'Omo for the continued opportunity to lead this program," Handrahan said. "My family and I love RMU and the Pittsburgh region, and we are very excited to continue to be a part of the Colonial family."

Handrahan has coached three players that have earned All-College Hockey America honors as well as three players that have been named to the All-CHA Rookie Team. He was instrumental in the development of three-time All-CHA selection Brianne McLaughlin (2005-09), a goaltender who became the NCAA all-time saves leader after posting 3,809 saves during her four-year career with the Colonials. McLaughlin went on to the be named as one of three goaltenders for Team USA and earned a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"You are only as good as the people around you, and my two assistants, Scott Spencer and Candice Moxley, have done an outstanding job of continuing to help grow this program to the level it is now as well as push forward to new heights in the future," Handrahan said. "In addition, our players and their families believe in what we are doing, which is to continue to work to get better and help move this program toward nationally-recognized status, and for that I am grateful."

A 2000 graduate of Niagara University, Handrahan played in every game of his career as a defenseman with the Purple Eagles, helping lead Niagara to a No. 6 seed in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. A two-time All-ECAC West selection, Handrahan finished his career with 13 goals and 66 assists for 79 points.

Handrahan began his coaching career with his alma mater, spending three seasons at Niagara from 2001 to 2004. He served as an assistant with the RMU men's ice hockey program for two seasons from 2004 to 2006 before taking over the reigns of the Robert Morris women's team prior to the 2006-07 campaign.

A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Handrahan and his wife, Nicole, have three daughters, Haylee, Mara and Lila.