(TNS) —The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Ryan Papaioannou as coach of their ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers on Thursday morning.

Papaioannou (pronunced pa-pah-wawh-noh) succeeds Derek Army, who departed this summer to take an assistant position with the American Hockey League’s Colorado Eagles.

Papaioannou, 41, joins the Penguins from the Brooks Bandits of the junior British Columbia Hockey League, having led the team as general manager and coach since 2009-10.

The vast majority of Papaioannou’s time with the Bandits (2008-24) was in the Alberta Junior Hockey League before Brooks joined the BCHL in early 2024.

Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza, along with Amanda Kessel and Lucas Malloy, oversaw Wheeling’s hiring process.

“Adding Ryan to the organization as the head coach of the Wheeling Nailers is a pivotal hire for the Penguins and our development system,” Spezza said in a statement. “Ryan has consistently delivered winning results, including multiple championships during his 16 years as head coach and general manager of the Brooks Bandits. Additionally, he has a long track record of developing elite players, helping them to reach their potential, and contributing to a winning program.

“In the coming years, the number of young draft picks and free agents we will have entering pro hockey with our organization will be immense. As a result this hire was of tremendous importance to the Penguins and we are thrilled to get to work with Ryan.”

Papaioannou was named the AJHL’s Coach of the Year in 2013, 2019 and 2022.

His team won Junior A National Championships in 2013, 2019, 2022 and 2023.

Assistant coach Mitch Giguere and goaltending coach Karel Popper will be returning to Wheeling’s staff in 2025-26.