SCHENECTADY — Two years ago, Nate Leaman became the first men’s hockey coach at Union College to receive a multiyear contract, when he signed a four-year deal.

On Monday, that contract was extended.

Leaman agreed to a two-year contract extension, which keeps him at Union through the 2011-12 season. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

“I’m just thankful to the school, to [Union] president [Dr. Stephen] Ainlay and athletic director Jim McLaughlin for the support they’ve given to the program,” Leaman said. “I thank them for the contract extension, and I’m just looking forward to guiding the program the next four years.”

Leaman, who has a 72-88-22 record, guided the Dutchmen to a fourth-place finish in ECAC Hockey last season with a 10-7-5 record, their first winning season in league play since 1996-97, when they went 11-8-3. It was the best finish ever in the program’s Division I history, and the Dutchmen earned their first-ever ECACH tournament first-round bye.

Union’s overall record was

15-14-6. The last time the Dutchmen finished above .500 overall was also in 1996-97, when they posted a

16-13-3 mark.

During the Leaman era, the Dutchmen have had home ice in the ECACH tournament four times.

“It was a reward for last season, and for everything he does here,” McLaughlin said. “He’s provided great leadership for that program. I want to make sure that we do

everything that we can to keep him here at Union College.”

Leaman was an assistant coach at Harvard when he was hired by Union on July 30, 2003, to replace Kevin Sneddon, who left to become Vermont’s head coach. The 2008-09 season will be Leaman’s sixth campaign with the Dutchmen, the longest tenure of any coach in the program’s 18-year Division I his­tory. Sneddon and Bruce Delventhal each spent five years as head coach. Delventhal was also the coach for the Dutchmen’s final two years in Division III.

Leaman said he wasn’t looking for a contract extension when he met with McLaughlin after the season.

“They came to me at the time of my evaluation,” Leaman said. “I’m very appreciative of that.”

While the contract extension gives Leaman security, he is happy that the deal shows the commitment Union is making to the program. And that will help in

recruiting.

“I think, in today’s day and age, the kids want to know you’re going to be there,” Leaman said. “I love Union College. I’ve enjoyed the past five years working at this school, and working for the

people that I’ve worked for. I’m just looking forward to the next four years.”

Ironically, when Leaman signed his four-year contract in 2006, he was named an assistant coach for the United States team that competed in the World Junior Championships. This year, Leaman will be spending the Christmas hol­idays as an assistant coach for the U.S., again at the World Juniors in

Ottawa.

“I don’t think there’s any coincidence in that,” Leaman said with a smile.