Brandon Wheat Kings’ coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon announced during a press conference at Westman Place on Thursday that former defenceman Mike Vandenberghe has been hired as the Western Hockey League club’s new Interim Assistant Coach.

A native of Reston, Vandenberghe’s appointment comes two weeks after assistant coach Dwayne Gylywoychuk suffered a broken back in a serious fall at Keystone Centre.

A member of the Wheat Kings from 1988 to ’91,Vandenberghe spent the 2009-10 season as an assistant coach with the University of Regina Cougars. Before that, he spent five seasons as head coach of the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League after an 8-year professional hockey career.

Earler this year, he served as head coach of Team Western at this year’s World Under 17 Challenge in Timmins, Ontario.

In Brandon, Vandenberghe joins Darren Ritchie on McCrimmon’s coaching staff to start the 2010-11 campaign.

“Mike will help fill the void in Dwayne’s absence,” said McCrimmon. “As a former Wheat King, he will be a good fit with Darren and Dwayne...and as a former defenceman, he will fill an important role with our young defence.”

The 38-year old Vandenberghe played 218 games in the WHL, including 156 in Brandon, scoring seven goals and 64 points while accumulating 437 penalty minutes. In addition to the Wheat Kings, he played with the Tigers in Medicine Hat.