Dan Kerluke begins his seventh season as an assistant coach for the Black Bears and his fourth as an associate head coach. Kerluke played for Maine from 1997-2001 and was a member of the 1999 National Championship team. 

Kerluke serves as Maine’s recruiting coordinator. He has been instrumental in recruiting some of Maine’s top players in recent years. He has made several trips to Sweden and played a key role in recruiting 2010 Hobey Hat Trick selection Gustav Nyquist. 

This season, Kerluke will be responsible for coaching the defense. 

Kerluke has been intregal in recruiting all four classes on this year’s team. He had a hand in recruiting Maine’s top line last year which consisted of Tanner House, Gustav Nyquist and Brian Flynn. The trio combined to score 56 goals and add 91 assists for 147 points. 

Kerluke’s recruiting class in 2008-09 scored the most points in Hockey East and included the top two goal scoring freshmen. 

During the 2006–07 season, Kerluke was instrumental in working with the power play unit, which was best in the nation, as the team reached the NCAA Frozen Four.  Kerluke served as volunteer assistant coach in the 2004-05 season as the Black Bears advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four in Milwaukee. He worked extensively with game video and also worked with the forwards.

Prior to Maine, Kerluke spent three seasons as Head Coach of the Bangor High School boy’s ice hockey team. He led the team to the playoffs all three seasons, and in the 2004-05 season set numerous school records, including most wins and their first-ever regular season championship. Following Maine, he spent the 2001-02 season playing in the WCHL. He played in 14 games with the Idaho Steelheads and then went on to play in 49 games with the Fresno Falcons as they won the WCHL Championship.  

In four seasons with the Black Bears, Kerluke played in 152 games. He scored 54 goals, including 10 game-winners, and added 54 assists for 108 total points. As a senior in 2000-01, he posted nine goals and nine assists in 39 games played. In 1999-2000, he played in 39 games and had 12 goals and 14 assists. Kerluke earned Hockey East Academic Team honors and Maine Scholar Athlete honors. He was named Hockey East Player of the Week on March 6 after scoring three straight goals in a 3-2 win at Providence. During the 1998-99 season, he played in 41 games with 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points. He tallied points in all four NCAA Tournament games, including an assist in the National Championship game. As a freshman, he scored 10 goals and had 12 assists in 33 games played. 

A native of Brampton, Ontario, Kerluke is a 2001 graduate of the University of Maine with a degree in new media. Kerluke resides in Hermon with his wife, Cristina, who works for the Maine Athletic Department in Academic Support. The couple has a daughter, Lilliana, born on April 28, 2010.