In the summer of 2018, longtime Michigan Wolverines athletic trainer, Rick Bancroft, was promoted to director of hockey operations with the program. Now entering his 31st season at Michigan, Bancroft has been with the Wolverines since 1991.

During his time in Ann Arbor, Bancroft also held the role of coordinator of athletic medicine from 2000 to 2018, athletic training consultant from 2006 to 2018 and professional development coordinator from 1991 to 2018. He also served as an intermittent lecturer and instructor in the division of kinesiology from 1991 to 1993 and 1997 to 2001.