Bandits searching for new head coach as longtime bench boss Ryan Papaioannou joins Penguins’ organization

Longtime Brooks Bandit head coach Ryan Papaioannou resigned Thursday to accept a job as the head coach of the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.

The Brooks Bandits are searching for a new head coach after Ryan Papaioannou resigned to join the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.

Papaioannou will become the head coach of the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers.

Papaioannou spent 16 seasons in the Bandits organization, coaching 1,172 games and compiling a 907-217-48 record.

Over that span, Papaioannou coached the club to nine league championships and four national championships, building the Bandits into a junior hockey dynasty.

“First, on behalf of the Brooks Bandits I must congratulate Ryan on his professional hockey appointment, a substantial achievement that adds further kudos to our organization,” said Bandits president Paul Seaton.

“This day was always going to come. Fortuitously it is considerably later than most of us expected. At the junior level he has become the most successful and highly regarded coach in North America, probably even well beyond,” Seaton added.

“As a community we can take great pride in his advancement during his 16 years in Brooks. He leaves us at the very top, a position we intend to maintain.”

On their Instagram page, the Nailers welcomed the new coach.

“Papaioannou joins the Wheeling Nailers as the 21st head coach in team history, and comes from a culture of winning with the @brooks_bandits.”

Papaioannou said thanks to everyone in the Bandits organization.

“The opportunity to move on to a new challenge in pro hockey is something exciting for me, that said I have spent more than a third of my life building this program in Brooks and it’s truly a sad day to leave the office,” said Papaioannou.

“There are countless people to thank that all played a vital role in the success we’ve enjoyed. Our board of directors for continuously giving me the opportunity to lead the team, the billet families for allowing our players a home away from home and our passionate fans for always believing in the direction we take.

“It goes without saying the players and staff over the years are the people who are at the forefront of what we do and without them we don’t have the special program we possess. I must especially thank my wife, Jordana and my boys, Ambrose and Calix, for allowing me the time to dedicate to the Bandits.”

The Bandits said they will announce a new head coach soon as they prepare to open training camp Aug. 30 for the 2025-26 season.