Coaches
Steve Howard – President of Hockey Operations/Head Coach
Steve Howard is entering his eighth season at the helm of the Bruins in 2024-25. He became the third head coach in Bruins history on May 1st, 2017, after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL.
In the seven seasons behind the bench in Austin, Howard has led the Bruins to a 220-152-21-28 record. While behind the bench during the 2022-23 season, Howard helped lead the Bruins to their first Central Division Title since 2015 and reached the Robertson Cup Final. In 2017-18, Howard was named the Central Division Coach of the Year by the NAHL, becoming the first head coach in Bruins history to achieve the honor.
Howard was recognized as the NA3HL Coach of the Year after leading the Flint Junior Generals to the circuit’s Eastern Division championship and USA Hockey’s Tier III National Junior Tournament in 2014. Over two seasons with the Junior Generals, Howard owned a regular-season record of 69-21-4.
Howard played professionally in the ECHL, SPHL, and other domestic circuits, as well as in Europe and Asia, from 2001 through 2008. His first experience coaching came as a player/assistant with the SPHL’s Columbus (GA) Cottonmouths in 2006/07. After retirement as a player, his career in coaching and skill development, including work with the Minnesota Advancement Program (MAP) and Michigan’s STRIDA Hockey.
Al Rooney – Associate Head Coach
Al Rooney has been promoted to Associate Head Coach after rejoining the Bruins during the ‘23-‘24 campaign as Assistant Head Coach. Rooney was previously the Head Coach of the Corpus Christi Ice Ray, as well as winning the Robertson Cup in 2016-2017 with the Lone Star Brahmas. Rooney was head coach for the Texas Jr. Brahmas of the NA3HL and played goalie professionally from 1996-2004, notably in the Central Hockey League and Western Professional Hockey League. Rooney played with Howard on the San Angelo Outlaws during the 2000-01 season.
Robby Murray – Assistant Coach
Robby Murray’s career as a defenseman began with the TPH Thunder of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. Between 2016 and 2019 Murray notched seven goals and ten assists in 77 games played. Murray then made the jump to the Nashville Jr. Predators program where he played in 63 games for the Jr. Preds across two seasons. He finished the 2020-21 season with the Shreveport Mudbugs of the NAHL.
Murray will be helping with skill development and power play this season.
Nick Lehr – Goaltending Coach
Nick Lehr enters his fourth season as Goaltending Coach for the Bruins during the 2024-25 Season. Lehr also served as the Goalie Director with the Beijing Junior Kings in Beijing, China, as part of the Los Angeles Kings Goalie Development Program from 2019 to 2021. Lehr has previously worked with Minnesota Advancement Program (MAP) and MEGA Goaltending. Lehr has been associated with the Blaine-based goaltending program since the beginning of his playing career and has been coaching on and off since high school.
Before joining the Bruins in a coaching capacity, Lehr played four seasons at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated in 2018 with a degree in Business and Marketing Education. The Roseville, MN, native is the most decorated goaltender in Austin Bruins history, having played three years in a Bruins uniform between 2011 and 2014. He currently holds team records as a Goalie in appearances, minutes, fewest goals allowed, and wins in a season. He was also named to the NAHL All-Central team for his efforts during the 2013-14 campaign.
Scouting Department
Aaron Venasky begins his eighth season with the Bruins in 2024-25. Before coming to Austin, Venasky coached at Lakeville South High School, where the Cougars were Section 1AA Champions and State Semi-Finalists in 2016 as well as Section Finalists in 2017. Venasky also served as Head Scout/Midwest Regional Scout with the Bismarck Bobcats for six seasons before coaching at Lakeville South.
Venasky is a native of Edmonton, Alberta, and grew up playing in Apple Valley, Minnesota. He competed for three seasons in the junior ranks for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL and the Billings Bulls of the former AWHL. After juniors, Venasky took his career to the collegiate level, where he helped the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons win three WIAC Championships. Venasky graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis on Finance.
Scott Mikesch – Director of Player Personnel
Prior to joining the Bruins, “Scottie” was the Head Coach of Hanock Central High School where he coached former Bruins Captain Austin Salani. Prior to his new position at HCH, Mikesch was the head coach for the Waterloo Blackhawks (1992-96) and Dubuque Fighting Saints (1996-97) in the United States Hockey League (USHL), the Northeast Wisconsin Roadrunners Midget AAA (1999-2000) and the Finlandia University Lions (2000-01). Mikesch was named USHL Coach Of The Year in 1994.
