The American Collegiate Hockey Association announced today that University of Nevada-Las Vegas Head Coach Anthony Vignieri-Greener has been named the 2025 Men’s Division I Coach of the Year, as selected by ACHA Men’s Division I head coaches. 

Vignieri-Greener becomes the first University of Nevada-Las Vegas coach to win the award and the 10th former ACHA player to win the award, joining the likes of Chad Cassel, Dan Morris, Jeremy Goltz, Dan Phelps, Wade Regier, Greg Powers, Gary Astalos, Kirk Handy, and Wyatt Waselenchuk.

Vignieri-Greener was chosen from a group of finalists that included Mike Petrusma of Calvin University, Wyatt Waselenchuk of Minot State University, and Barry Schutte of Ohio University.

The Rebels finished the 2024-2025 season with a 31-5-3 overall record and qualified for the ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships for the 7th consecutive season, as the 2020 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships were cancelled, and the Rebels did not play during the 2020-2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Rebels won the Western Collegiate Hockey League Regular Season Championship with a 17-1-2 record, finishing eight points ahead of second place University of Utah.  The Rebels were ranked no lower than sixth all season and had a 14-game winning streak from October 19 thru December 14.   At the recently concluded 2024 ACHA Men’s Division I National Championships, the second seeded Rebels won their first ACHA Men’s Division I National Championship 7-3 over Adrian College, the defending national champions.  The Rebels also dispatched Liberty University (5-2), Maryville University (3-2 OT), and University of Arizona (6-2) on the way to the title. 

In addition, the Rebels were 30-2-3 against ACHA Men’s Division I competition and 22-3-2 against teams ranked in the Top 25, including wins over University of Jamestown, University of Utah, Grand Canyon University, University of Mary, University of Delaware, Arizona State University, and University of Colorado.

The Rebels started the season with a pair of non-conference NCAA Division I away games at Lindenwood University, losing 5-1 and 6-3, then finished the semester with games against University of Denver, a Frozen Four participant and defending NCAA Division I National Champions, and Colorado College.  The Rebels defeated University of Denver 7-6 in an overtime shootout while falling to Colorado College 8-0.

Originally from Kenosha, Wisc., Vignieri-Greener had a long hockey career as a forward before stepping into his coaching skates. He originally joined the Rebels in 2006, a year after the program started as an ACHA Men’s Division II member.

Vignieri-Greener played for five seasons, playing in 114 games, tallying 96 goals, dishing out 169 assists, for a career total of 265 points.  His memorable play on the ice can be recognized as his #96 jersey can be seen hanging inside the Hylo Park Arena, keeping his legacy alive. Vignieri-Greener was named to the ACHA Men’s Division II First Team All-Athletic once and ACHA Men’s Division II Second Team All-Athletic once.

In his last three seasons of play with the Rebels, he helped the team reach the regional tournament, a milestone for the young program at the time. During that time, he was also a part of the Rebels two-season undefeated streak at home, totaling 36 consecutive wins.

Vignieri-Greener graduated from the team in 2011, venturing off to other coaching jobs in the Las Vegas Valley. He began his coaching career for the Las Vegas Jr Wranglers, as well as other Las Vegas-based youth programs, including Pee Wee AA, Bantam AA, U16AA, and U18AA.

In 2015, Vignieri-Greener returned to his roots as he took on the role of head coach for the Rebels. It took only two years at the helm before the Rebels made the jump to ACHA Men’s Division I hockey.  Since joining ACHA Men’s Division I, the Rebels have not missed a playoff run qualifying seven times.

Vignieri-Greener enjoys family time when he is not on the ice. He has his wife, Ashley, his two daughters, Karter and Graesyn, and one more daughter on the way due this summer. They also have two dogs, Aria and Asher.

Photo/UNLV Hockey

— ACHA Staff

(April 7, 2025)