Layne LeBel enters his second year as the director of operations for the Buckeyes after spending 2010-11 as Ohio State's volunteer coach. LeBel coached alongside third-year Buckeye head coach Mark Osiecki with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL and has been a coach in the CCHA, spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Notre Dame.
In his first season at Notre Dame, LeBel contributed to the success of a talented defensive corps that helped the Irish set school records for lowest goals-against average (2.42), save percentage (.925) and shutouts in a season (6). The same year, Notre Dame made its first ever NCAA tournament appearance.
LeBel was with the Gamblers for two years and paired with Osiecki to lead the team to the USHL Eastern Division title in 2000-01. Prior to his stint in Green Bay, LeBel was the head coach for the Wisconsin Midget AAA hockey club.
A 1994 graduate of Michigan Tech University, LeBel, a defenseman, was a four-year regular with the Huskies and is sixth all-time among Michigan Tech defensemen in scoring with 25 goals and 68 assists for 93 points in 149 career games. He also had 71 penalties for 156 minutes during his career. A two-time finalist for the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, LeBel was an honorable mention All-WCHA selection and a WCHA All-Academic selection following the 1992-93 season. That year, he also was awarded Michigan Tech's Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award. He was a key member of the 1994 Michigan Tech team that orchestrated one of the biggest upsets in college hockey when the 10th-place Huskies upset top-ranked Colorado College in the first round of the WCHA playoffs.
Following graduation, LeBel played one season in the Central Hockey League for the Memphis Riverkings, finishing seventh in scoring with 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points in 45 games. He then moved on to Germany for five seasons with Duisburg EV and Regensburg EV in the German Division I and II leagues.
LeBel and his wife, Molly, reside in Lewis Center, with their children, Mason and Emme. Since retiring from hockey LeBel competed in both the 2009 Columbus and 2010 Boston Marathons.
LeBel Quick Facts
Hometown: Val Marie, Saskatchewan
High School: Athol Murray College of Notre Dame
Alma Mater: Michigan Tech '94 (B.S. in Business Administration
Family: Wife, Molly; Son, Mason; Daughter, Emme
Playing Career: College: Michigan Tech (1990-94); CHL: Memphis Riverkings (1994-95); German Division I and II Leagues: Duisburg EV and Regensburg EV (1995-2000)
Coaching Career: Volunteer Coach, Ohio State (2010-11); Assistant Coach, Notre Dame (2003-05); Assistant Coach, Green Bay Gamblers (2001-03); Wisconsin AAA Midget Hockey Club (2000-01)
Assisted Under: Dave Poulin (Notre Dame), Mark Osiecki (Green Bay, Ohio State)
Championships as a Coach: Green Bay, USHL Eastern Division (2009-10)
