The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has named Gord Dineen head coach of the Iowa Chops, Anaheim?s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). In addition, the Ducks named Matt Laatsch assistant coach at Iowa. ?Gord Dineen is a top young coach with a lengthy and impressive resume as a player and as a coach,? said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. ?We were impressed with everything he added to our coaching staff in Portland last year and are extremely pleased to name him as our head coach in Des Moines.? Dineen, 45 (9/21/62), will begin his first stint as a head coach in the AHL this upcoming season. He spent last season as an assistant coach for the Portland Pirates, Anaheim?s then AHL affiliate. Prior to coaching in Portland, Dineen served as an assistant coach in the AHL for Louisville (2000-01), Springfield (2003-04), Utah (2004-05) and San Antonio (2005-06). Dineen?s head coaching experience includes stints with Macon (2001-02) and Richmond (2002-03) in the ECHL. ?I am very excited and flattered about being named the first head coach in Iowa Chops history,? said Dineen. ?My experience with the Anaheim Ducks organization has been a very positive one thus far, and I look forward to continuing that relationship and put a successful team on the ice. We will be a reflection of the Anaheim Ducks with an up-tempo, in-your-face, physical style of hockey that will prepare and develop our players to win at the NHL level.? Originally drafted by the New York Islanders in 1981 NHL Entry Draft (42nd overall), Dineen made his NHL debut in 1982-83 with the Islanders. A veteran of 528 career NHL games between the Islanders (1982-88, 1994-95), Minnesota North Stars (1988-89), Pittsburgh Penguins (1988-92) and Ottawa Senators (1992-94), Dineen scored 16-90=106 points with 695 penalty minutes (PIM). He collected 1-7=8 points with 68 PIM in 40 career NHL Playoff games, winning the Stanley Cup in 1991 with Pittsburgh. Laatsch, 28 (8/19/80), served as one of two assistant coaches in Portland last season, where the team advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Prior to joining the Ducks' organization, Laatsch was an assistant coach at the University of Denver during the 2006-07 season. Laatsch was a member of both University of Denver teams that won back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2004 and 2005.