NEW ULM — New Ulm Steel coach Jay Witta, who has been the head coach in the organization for the last two seasons, resigned from that position on Monday. Witta had a coaching record of 64-36-9 in his two seasons, which included a trip to the semifinals of the Silver Cup in 2016.

“When Jay took over the Steel we did not know what to expect,” Steel owner Steve Black said. “However, in the two years he has done an incredible job for us and has allowed us to be one of the top programs in the NA3HL. Jay was well-liked by his players, fans and all involved within the program and we are saddened to see him move on.”

Witta, who commuted from Minnetonka, said that he “was proud of what we have accomplished with the Steel organization.”

“We have worked very, very hard to turn the Steel name around from a low positive to a high positive,” Witta said. “We went from the most-penalized team in the league to one of the least-penalized and most-skilled teams.”

Witta was with the team last year after it moved from the metro area to New Ulm.

“We also completed a relocation transition from White Bear Lake to New Ulm smoothly,” Witta said. “On the ice in the community we serve, we turned the perception around of the Steel into a force to be reckoned with — night in and night out we battled in the toughest division in the NA3HL while developing 12 players and counting to a higher level of junior, college and international hockey.”

Witta was thankful for his time with the Steel organization.

“On a more personal note, let me express my gratitude for the wonderful opportunities for professional growth and development,” he said. “While I am excited by the new opportunities that I will be pursuing in coaching I will always remember my time with the Steel with great fondness.”

Black said the organization was aware that Black would possibly step down.

“We knew that his resignation was possible for a while, it became official Monday,” Black said. “Plans for Jay’s replacement and the next Steel head coach are underway.”

ERICKSON, SOMMERS SIGN WITH GRANITE CITY: Goalie Kaden Erickson of Luverne and forward Bailey Sommers of Redwood Valley have both signed tenders with Granite City for next season. Both had been also offered tenders from the New Ulm Steel.