Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has fired head coach Seth Appert after 11 seasons at the helm of the school’s hockey program.

RPI Athletic Director Lee McElroy announced the school would begin a national search for Appert’s replacement. The school will have to pay some form of buyout on his contract that was good through the 2020-21 season.

"We conduct annual evaluations of our athletic programs and the performance of all our coaches at the end of the season, and we have determined that a change in leadership is necessary," RPI athletic director Lee McElroy said in a statement.

Appert, a 1997 graduate of Ferris State, previously was an assistant coach at Denver. He was 152-221-48 during his tenure as head coach of the Engineers. His teams made just one NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011.